Farmers in Abohar staged a protest on Friday at the Canal Colony, accusing the Punjab Government of failing to ensure adequate canal water supply to tail-end villages despite official claims. The demonstration highlighted ongoing irrigation shortages affecting agricultural livelihoods.
MLA joins protesters, demands action
Abohar MLA Sandeep Jakhar arrived at the protest site and expressed solidarity with the farmers. He criticized the state government for not fulfilling promises made by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who had pledged to resolve water supply issues for tail-end villages. Jakhar invited both CM Mann and Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal to visit Abohar and witness the situation firsthand.
Farmers from Gumjal and Panniwala Mahla villages alleged that the required quantity of water was not being released into the Malukpur Minor canal, leaving their fields parched. In a letter addressed to Water Resources Minister Goyal, they stated that their orchards were drying up, causing severe financial losses.
Official assurance amid ongoing crisis
SDO (Canal) Jaswinder Singh, who reached the protest site, assured the agitating farmers that the necessary canal water would be supplied to the tail-end villages by Saturday. However, farmers remain skeptical given the long-standing nature of the problem.
The protest underscores a recurring issue in Punjab's irrigation system, where tail-end villages often receive less water due to distribution inefficiencies. According to the farmers, the inadequate supply has persisted for an extended period, exacerbating their economic distress.
