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Water at gun-point: that is what rich farmers do in Bundelkhand

LUCKNOW: Reeling under the impact of drought and with water becoming a scarce commodity, Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh has spawned a new type of gun culture. In a startling development, irrigation water is reportedly being diverted to the fields of the rich and influential farmers at the point of the gun and their henchmen not averse at using force to stop the poor farmers from using the water.

With Bundelkhand comprising the seven districts of Banda, Chitrakoot, Mahoba, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Jhansi and Lalitpur recording sporadic and below average rainfall for the fourth year in running, according to the State Irrigation Department, the water level in around 75 per cent reservoirs was below “dead level”.

In a recent incident some rich farmers ganged up to “capture” water when it was released in the Aliha “rajbaha” (irrigation channel) in Banda district. Before the water could reach the tail of the canal it was diverted to the parched fields of the rich farmers by their gun-toting henchmen who made bunds at different places to change the flow.

About half a dozen villages, including Pahranpurwa, Ragauli and Akauna under Bisanda police station area in Banda, reported these developments.

Ram Gopal, the president of the Chitrakoot-based NGO, Akhil Bharatiya Sewa Samaj Sansthan, told The Hindu over the phone that those who had no gun power were the ones generally deprived of irrigation water.

“As a result of sporadic rainfall, the water table is receding, there is very little water in the reservoirs and tanks either for men, animals, or for farming. With anger and resentment fast spreading emergency measures have to be taken or else it would be difficult for the administration to control the situation,” said Mr. Gopal.

Bundelkhand has borne the brunt of nature as well as man-made problems.

“ It is a desperate situation for the people. The canals have dried up, against a average of 1000 mm, Banda received 416 mm rainfall this year”, said the Banda district police chief, Ashutosh Kumar. The Banda SP confirmed that water is diverted by “dabang” (farmers with muscle power) farmers before it could reach the tail of the canals. “ Complaints relating to forceful diversion of water are dealt on a case to case basis”, the police official added.

Given the present situation in the region, people like Ram Gopal, who have done extensive work in Bundelkhand, felt that the real impact of the water crisis would be felt during the summer. For instance, in Mahoba, another drought-hit district, drinking water was available through hand pumps, but officials here agreed that farm water is scarce. Says the Mahoba SP, Gyan Singh, “ if the situation is not arrested it might turn critical during the summer months next year”.

A different dimension has been added to the water crisis in Jalaun district, which is at the mercy of the neighbouring Madhya Pradesh for getting sufficient water for irrigation purposes. Rigzian Sampheal, the DM of Jalaun, revealed that his district is irrigated by the Betwa Canal which originates in M.P.

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