Struggle for irrigation water in Hanumangarh: Great success after a long struggle

Peasants from numerous villages in the Nohar sub-division of Hanumangarh district in Rajasthan have been waging a long struggle at the office of the sub-divisional officer. The struggle is being organised under the banner of “Kisan, Mazdoor, Vyaapari Sangharsh Samiti”. This struggle went on continuously for 25 days. After 25 days of intense struggle finally, the administrative machinery woke up and agreed to meet the peasants for a discussion. Following the discussion with the peasants the officials agreed to all demands and how these will be resolved.

Hanumangarh dharna

The peasants pointed out that they have to face number of difficulties. They reported that the administration, instead of pay attention to their demands and resolving them, was trying to break their struggle. Today they are forced to hold this demonstration leaving aside their work because they want water to irrigate their fields. They demanded that all issues related to irrigation must be resolved on urgent basis, as these are long pending demands.

This success will benefit  many blocks and villages in the area which includes Ramgarh, Parlika, Gogamedi, Dhilki, Ujjwalwas, Barvaali, 24 NTR, Bhukraka, Nethrana, Bakhada, Soti, Aaraiyawali dhani, Mansuri and so on. Peasants from these and many other villages were sitting on serial demonstration.

The agitation has been led by Vice President of Lok Ran Sangathan Hanuman Prasad Sharma, On Sahu (former sarpanch), Madan Beniwal (Convenor, Kisan, Mazdoor, Vyaapari Sangharsh Samiti), Juglala Khati (President, Jal Upabhokta Sangathan), Raghubir Chimpa (former sarpanch), Laxmi Narayan Beniwal, Doctor Krishna Nokhwal, Maniran Lakesar, Kanhaiya Lal Jain, etc.

Key demands of the peasants include:

  • The Amarsingh Branch of the canal should be supplied with water as was done since its inauguration till 1998.
  • The boundaries around Amarsingh branch and its distributaries like NTR, DPN, MSR, and BDR etc, should be removed and the shrubs that have grown in the area must be removed.
  • Amarsingh branch, and its canals and minors have not been repaired for long time. Hence adequate budget should be made for its repair and removing the silt.
  • Urgent and effective steps must be taken to stop pilferage and theft of water from the canal, so that there is fear amongst water mafia, and water theft can be stopped.
  • Various remaining branches of the Amarsingh branch must be repaired, so that their capacities can be enhanced.
  • There is no provision for directly extracting from the main canal. Hence ditch miner should be removed so that nearby land can be irrigated.
  • Any type of Illegal construction on the canal must be stopped.

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