Hindustan Times (Amritsar)

Move to scrap canal project is anti-farmer: Surjewala

- HT Correspond­ent letterschd@hindustant­imes.com

KURUKSHETR­A: Congress party’s national media in-charge Randeep Sing hS ur jew ala on Sunday extended support to protesting farmers in Shahbad of Kurukshetr­a district and said that the state government’s decision to scrap the Dadupur-Nalvi irrigation scheme was ‘anti-people’.

Addressing a gathering of farmers and Congress workers, Surjewala said the Congress party will raise the issue in the state assembly.

“The cabinet decision of shelving the Dad up ur-N al vic anal project is anti-farmer, illegal and unconstitu­tional and the Congress party will oppose this at all levels ,” Surjewala said. Accompanie­d by former Congress legislator Anil Dhantori, Surjewala said that the attitude of the BJP government in the state is ‘completely anti-farmer’.

“Rather than paying full compensati­on to the farmers, the state cabinet cancelled the project, thereby shelving the project. The decision is illegal and unconstitu­tional as the amendment bill brought in that regard has not yet got the approval of the President of India,” he added.

He said that the Congress is with the farmers in their struggle and will fight for their rights both inside and outside the assembly.

He said that nearly 200 crore has been paid in compensati­on forth eland alone, besides spending another ₹111.70 crore for constructi­on of these canal sand after spending over ₹300 crore rupees, now Khattar government has decided to scrap the project.

The Kaithal MLA said that chief minister Khattar has even forgotten that the current government did not find any water in the ongoing Saraswati Canal Project.

They executed a face saving formula by releasing water from Dad up ur-Nalvi Canal in the Saraswati Project at ‘Uncha Chanda na’ village and now is shutting down the Dadupur-Nalvi Canal Project would automatica­lly means hutting down the Saraswati Canal project, resulting into further loss to the public exchequer.

› After spending over ₹300 crore rupees, the Khattar government has now decided to scrap the project. RANDEEP SINGH SURJEWALA, Congress leader

 ??  ?? Congress party’s national media incharge Randeep Singh Surjewala addressing a gathering of farmers and party workers in Kurukshetr­a on Sunday. HT PHOTO
Congress party’s national media incharge Randeep Singh Surjewala addressing a gathering of farmers and party workers in Kurukshetr­a on Sunday. HT PHOTO

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