Jeypore: Scores of farmers led by Kotpad MLA Chandrasekhar Majhi Saturday gheraoed the office of Orissa Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC) here over alleged favouritism in management of canal irrigation.
They had a scuffle with the police when the latter tried to resist them, a report said.
According to the farmers, the administration had asked farmers to prepare for the rabi crop promising release of water by January 1. Trusting this, they procured seeds and fertilizers. Though water was released in the canal January 2, it was stopped after three days despite enough water in the reservoir, the farmers alleged.
On being enquired, it was learnt that the farmers of Kotpad area depend on canal irrigation to raise their rabi crop. Though they have been urging officials to release water for the last one month, it was not heeded.
According to official sources, the administration decided to supply water to a part of Kotpad block. Accordingly, the farmers of Nuagaon region was to get the irrigation facility this year.
The block has been divided into two zones – Girla and Nuagaon. Last year, water was released to Girla zone and this year it is the turn of Nuagaon, officials said, adding, water can be released only after power generation in the multipurpose project. A stricture has been issued by OHPC’s head office at Bhubaneswar to this effect, they further said.
Meanwhile, farmers are panicky over the fresh regulation of the corporation. They registered their complaints against the rule with the collector and the sub-collector. The gherao was meant to register their protests against the inordinate delay in resolving the issue by the administration.
However, they relented after officials promised to take measures soon after having a discussions with Bhubaneswar office.
The farmers warned of an agitation and threatened to take laws into their hands if their farming is hit by the shortage of water. PNN
