Farmers protest canal remodelling in Sirsa

The canal remodelling work undertaken by the Irrigation Department has sparked protests by farmers in several villages. The Ban Mandori distributary, supplying water to villages like Shahpur Begu, Arnianwali, Dhingtania, and Rangri Khera, has been revamped. However, locals claim the changes have disrupted water supply to around 10,000 acres of farmland.

For the past five days, dozens of farmers from these villages have been protesting near the canal. Farmer Ashok Kumar alleged that the department lowered the canal bed across about four km near Nezia village on November 14, leaving the middle section dry while water reached the tail end. He explained that the elevation of fields near the canal now exceeds the canal level preventing water from flowing into these areas.

Sharing his views, farmer Harbans said the groundwater in the area was 200-250 feet deep and was saline, making it unsuitable for farming. The fields depend entirely on canal water. He added, “If we use pipes to draw water, it will be considered theft, and no farmer wants to resort to this measure.”

Another farmer Prithvi Singh accused the department of political interference, claiming the canal bed was intentionally lowered by 1.5 to 2 feet in some areas. He cited a similar issue in Bakrianwali village, where residents of five villages had been protesting for months.

Meanwhile, Sheranwali sub-division SDO Lakhwinder Singh refuted the allegations, stating the canal’s design was appropriate and ensured water reaches the tail end, which was previously dry. “The design is based on approved water levels, and all outlets are sized accordingly. Farmers demanding more water are asking beyond what’s approved,” he clarified.

He added the protesting farmers want more water but the canal provided water according to the approved capacity, and the outlets were built accordingly.

"Our job is to distribute water equally to all villages. We cannot supply more water to some and less to others. The current canal design was prepared by the head office following the Chief Minister's announcement, and there are no flaws in it," Singh said.

He also mentioned the distributary was about 30 km long, and after remodelling, all villages, including the tail end areas, were receiving an adequate water supply.