The Hindu : Other States / Rajasthan News : Troops withdrawn from towns

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Wednesday, Nov 03, 2004

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Troops withdrawn from towns

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, NOV.2 . Troops were withdrawn from three towns of Sriganganagar district in Rajasthan today following return of normalcy after week-long unrest over distribution of irrigation water. Curfew was lifted today in Anupgarh while in Rawala and Ghadsana towns relaxation was allowed during the day. There was no report of any untoward incident in the area.

The Army was deployed in the border towns on October 28 after widespread violence which had claimed four lives in police firing in Rawala and Ghadsana.

After a review of the report submitted by a two-member Cabinet sub-committee which went to assess the situation, the Chief Minister, Vasundhara Raje, noted the improvement in the law and order situation in Sriganganagar district. The people's representatives and the officials were in touch with the public in order to normalise the situation, she said.

The review meeting was attended by members of the Cabinet sub-committee, Rajendra Rathore and Sanwarlal Jat, the Home Minister, Gulab Chand Kataria, the Chief Secretary, R.K.Nair, and the Director-General of Police, S.N.Jairath.

Ms.Raje observed that the problem of farmers not getting their share of water even when the Government was supplying the fixed quantity without fail had arisen from certain individuals directing water illegally to their fields. She asked the officials to check illegal diversion of water so that there could be equitable supply.

"The State Government is committed to supply of adequate water to farmers but the existing bottlenecks have to be removed,'' Ms.Raje said. She directed the Irrigation Secretary to tour the canal areas immediately and submit a proposal to the Government on streamlining the supply.

The meeting was told that the farmers receiving water from the Anupgarh branch of the main canal had been getting the stipulated 5.23 cusecs of water per 1000 acres of land. However, certain unsocial elements had breached the canal to illegally carry water to their fields thus causing distress to the farmers at the tail end. This also led to "misleading propaganda'' by certain persons that the water allowance had been reduced from 5.23 cusecs to 3.5 cusecs, it was pointed out.

The meeting also noted that Phase I of the Indira Gandhi Canal area had a higher water allowance than any other irrigated area in the State. Against the water allowance of 5.23 cusecs there, the Bhakra Nangal area has 2.40 cusecs, the Gang Canal, 2.56 cusecs and the Phase II of the Indira Gandhi Canal, 3 cusecs.

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