Stop water to Rajasthan from Pong Dam: Oustees

DHARAMSHALA : Angry after Rajasthan government rejected claims for land allotment of over 5,000 Pong Dam oustees, various organisations of displaced people have demanded state government to stop water that goes to north-western state from the dam for irrigation.

The oustees have been demanding that water be stopped till all the oustees are rehabilitated and 2.20 lakh hectares of land in Rajasthan is restored to them.

Rajasthan is top beneficiary of Pong Dam and receives 51% of total water that is diverted through a canal and flows into Sriganganagar and Bikaner districts.

The Rajasthan government has rejected the claims of 5,442 Pong Dam oustees during the meeting of a high-powered committee, comprising representatives of Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and the Union government, in New Delhi on November 2 citing various reasons.

Tirath Ram Sharma, head of the Pong Bandh Visthapit Sangharsh Samiti said the high-powered committee which was entrusted with the responsibility of delivering justice to the oustees has failed miserably.

It is due to the apathetic attitude of committee that the issue of resettlement of displaced is hanging fire for over four decades, he alleged.

The Himachal Pradesh government should stop water flowing into Rajasthan until the issue is resolved, he demanded.

Sharma also demanded the state government to properly take up the matter with Rajasthan government and know the reason for rejection of claims.

Hem Raj, who is president of Pong Bandh Visthapit Committee, another organistation of the oustees, blamed successive government for their failure in providing justice to the displaced people.

“Whether its the Congress or BJP, they only do politics on this issue and no sincere efforts have been made for resettlement of the oustees. The high-powered committee has only bargained the interest of affected people,” he alleged.

A total 20,722 families were displaced.