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Saturday, Dec 18, 2004

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Rajasthan plan to boost water supply to farmers

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, DEC. 16 . The Rajasthan Government has decided to clean and repair the Indira Gandhi Canal in the north-western parts of the State to ensure proper distribution of water to farmers. The leakage of water from vantage points in the canal will also be prevented.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting, presided over by the Chief Minister, Vasundhara Raje, at her official residence here on Wednesday. Ms. Raje emphasised that while special attention would be paid to proper distribution of water, all possible "legal efforts" would be made to ensure that the State gets its full share in the Ravi-Beas waters.

The State Government's move assumes significance in the wake of a recent agitation by farmers in Sriganganagar and Bikaner districts launched in protest against the alleged improper distribution of water and demanding protection of their share in the canal waters. The Government entered into an agreement with the farmers on Saturday last assuring that there would no reduction in the water supply.

Ms. Raje said the gates of the Harike Barrage in Punjab should be repaired without delay to check unnecessary leakage of water. She issued instructions for drawing fixed quantity of water from the canal system and preventing the theft of water, while affirming that an estimate of water actually received by Rajasthan would be made shortly to strengthen the State's case for getting its full share.

The Chief Minister sanctioned Rs. 5 crores for repairing the canal's Anupgarh section, which has developed a breach leading to paucity of water in other segments. Ms. Raje emphasised that no repair works would be held up for want of funds and the supply of water to the farmers living near the canal's tail-end would be ensured under all circumstances.

The meeting also discussed the situation arising out of the construction of three new `minors' by neighbouring Haryana in the upstream of the canal's Masitawali Head two years ago and decided to demand additional water from Harike Barrage in lieu of the drawal by Haryana. Besides, the issue of keeping the regulation of Rawatsar and Naurangdesar distributaries at a single location was also taken up.

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