Nuapada: Agitation by farmers of five gram panchayats of Nuapada district, who benefited from the Upper Jonk Irrigation Project, entered the 24th day Friday.
The farmers have been staging a demonstration at the zero head canal point near Panchampur village for the last 24 days demanding equal distribution of water among all farmers—both upper ridge area and lower ridge area of the ayacut area of the project.
Earlier, the people of lower ridge of Jonk irrigation project had sought the intervention of the high court for release of water. On HC’s order, the Collector ordered the release of water. However, the farmers refused to relent and continued the stir.
They threatened to go to Chhattisgarh, if the police tortured or took to non-violence.
“We are sitting on strike for the last 24 days. If, the police torture or manhandle us, we will go to Chhattisgarh,” the farmers said.
According to sources, the project, locally known as Patora dam has an ayacut area of 9,920 hectares out of which 810 hectares belong to Chhattisgarh. But due to restriction imposed by the forest and environment department, the water storage has been reduced and, as a consequence, the irrigation potential has come down affecting the irrigated area during the rabi season.
To address this problem, the pani panchayats had arrived at a water distribution agreement to provide equal benefit to all farmers. Ayacut area was divided into two segments and the farmers agreed that each segment would get water in alternate year for rabi season.
But violating this agreement, farmers in lower ridge of the ayacut did not allow the upper ridge farmers to take water during rabi. Therefore, the farmers of the upper ridge which consists of Dharambandha, Sarabong, Bhera, Chulhabhat, Amanara and Mota Nuapada panchayats protested and requested the administration to intervene.
As the administration did not take any action, the aggrieved farmers decided to stage demonstration which is running for the last 24 days. They have not allowed the water to be released and have declared noncooperation in government activities.
“We will not participate in the forthcoming elections,” they said. They are also not participating in the PEETHA and KALIA and Voter Varifiable Paper Audit Trail (VV PAT) programme in villages. Even the schools have been closed and the children are sitting in demonstration with their parents.
In the meanwhile, BJD panchayat leaders have sent their resignations from organisational posts to the party’s district president.
PNN
