Farmers block road in Sirsa

Farmers in Sirsa, who have been protesting for the past 11 days in support of their demand to raise the height of the Sherawali Canal’s embankment, blocked the Sirsa-Jamal road today. The blockade caused disruption in the flow of traffic. The farmers, frustrated by the lack of response by the government, started chanting slogans against the authorities.

The demonstration began on October 1, with farmers from various villages such as Bakrianwali, Gudia Khera and Chouburja coming together at the canal’s embankment near Sherawali. The farmers claim that due to the low height of the embankment, their fields were not receiving sufficient irrigation and their crops were getting damaged.

Despite requests, the authorities did not address the issue, forcing them to take to the streets, they said. Farmers expressed disappointment with the administration and its alleged apathy. The protesters said that they would not lift the blockade till their demands were met.

Ellenabad MLA Bharat Singh Beniwal arrived at the protest site and assured the farmers that their concerns would be addressed swiftly. He instructed the authorities to take immediate action to raise the canal’s height and ensure that farmers’ fields received adequate water. He told officials to communicate with farmers regularly and resolve their problems without delay.