Other States - Orissa   

Naveen decries police action at Hirakud

BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday termed the police action against farmers at Hirakud ‘unfortunate’ and said water meant for irrigation would not be diverted for industries.

“Not a single drop of water meant for irrigation will go to industries,” Mr. Patnaik said while responding to queries from presspersons at the State Secretariat here.

As regards the lathi-charge on farmers who were agitating against government’s move to provide water to industries at Hirakud on Tuesday, Mr. Patnaik said: “the incident was very unfortunate.”

“Anyone who has committed the excesses will be taken to task,” the Chief Minister said.

Mr. Patnaik also ordered an inquiry into the lathi-charge incident. The probe would be conducted by the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Northern Range).

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also held a high-level meeting to review the Hirakud reservoir water situation.

The meeting decided that the government would take measures to increase the capacity of the reservoir. Measures would also be taken to renovate all the canals under the Hirakud irrigation.

The meeting further decided that the industries that were drawing water from Hirakud would be asked to have reserve of water to meet their requirement of a month during crisis period.

During their agitation, over 30 farmers were injured when police resorted to lathi-charge to prevent them from entering the prohibited area of Hirakud dam.

The farmers from as many as 10 neighbouring districts under the banner of Western Orissa Farmers’ Coordination Committee have been opposing the government’s decision to provide water from Hirakud reservoir to several new industries.

In another development, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Jayadev Jena visited Hirakud on Wednesday to take stock of the situation arising out of the situation.

Supporting the farmers’ demand, Mr. Jena said the government should think of providing water for industries only after it allotted adequate water for irrigation purpose.

According to Lingaraj, convener of the Farmers’ Coordination Committee, the agitation against proposed diversion of Hirakud water to various industries would continue in the days to come.

The farmers in the region were already facing shortage of water from Hirakud during Rabi season and diversion of water to upcoming industries would prove disastrous for farmers, Mr. Lingaraj said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

State to launch talent hunt for kids soon
Top honours for Cuttack contingent
Radio creates positive vibes
KIIT claims making it to record book
ICDS project a failure in Koraput: MLA
Panel seeks fair deal to Muslims
Small traders take to streets
BSNL workers continue dharna
Illegal gun manufacturing unit raided; one held
Behera takes over as Commissioner-designate
Rally for waiver of farm loan
New judges take oath
Naveen decries police action at Hirakud
Three Indonesians driven out of temple

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu