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Ecologists join farmers’ stir in Rajasthan

JAIPUR: The farmers’ agitation for release of water from the Panchna dam in Karauli district of Rajasthan has taken a new turn with environmentalists and naturalists associated with the world famous Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur joining thousands of men who marched to the dam site in support of the demand on Wednesday.

This is the first time in five years after the damming of the Gambhir river -- which had a catastrophic effect on bird breeding in Keoladeo -- that the park fraternity has joined the agitation.

The issue of opening the sluice gates of Panchna, which had been fast changing into a Gujjar versus Meena fracas, assumed a new dimension as all sections of people and political leaders, including Vishvendra Singh, the BJP Member of Parliament from Bharatpur, extending support to the cause of the command area inhabitants and the park.

“Several lakhs of people living downstream of the dam have been hit as the planners never took into account the requirement of water downstream,” said Mr. Singh, a scion of the Bharatpur royal family, as quoted by local newspapers.

Mr. Singh, who spoke to Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on phone, appealed to all concerned to avoid a confrontation over water. At least for the day a showdown was avoided as the villagers upstream the dam, who are keeping a vigil at the site to stop any move to release water, did not react to those who came noisily in search of water. Both the groups were reportedly heavily armed.

Interestingly, a good number of Gujjars living downstream of the dam, led by former MLAs Gopi Chand Gujjar and Brajendra Singh Supa, joined the day-long meeting at the dam site. The agitation has the support of the Jat Mahasabha as well.

The upstream group has the support of Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla, who is leading an agitation in the State for Scheduled Tribe status to the community.

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