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Raje seeks PM's help for water release

Special Correspondent

JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene in the matter of release of water to the Indira Gandhi Canal from the Pong Dam by the Punjab Government. The farmers in Rajasthan were facing a critical situation with the standing crops in need of more water during the season, she said.

"We have emergency requirement of 50,000 cusecs of water for seven days. In case this legitimate demand of the cultivators in Rajasthan is not agreed to, I am afraid, it may damage the standing crops and unnecessarily invite agitation from the farmers," Ms.Raje said in a letter addressed to Dr. Manmohan Singh on Tuesday. "I request you to kindly intervene and direct State of Punjab to agree to our request." Ms. Raje's letter is a follow-up to the unanimous resolution passed by the Rajasthan Assembly on Monday requesting Punjab for release of water from the Pong Dam by allowing depletion in the level of water.

A request had been made by the State earlier for depletion of the level in the Pong Dam from 1301 feet to 1290 feet, without which it was not possible to manage the emergent requirement of water in Rajasthan, Ms. Raje said. "An undertaking was also given to the Bhakra-Beas Management Board that Rajasthan will compensate the beneficiary States of Punjab and Haryana for the loss of their share," she noted.

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