Farmers stage dharna outside agri varsity during Dhankar’s visit
HISAR: Several farmers of about 80 villages, including a large number of women, sat on dharna in front of the Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agriculture University (CCSHAU), where state agriculture minister OP Dhankar was to address a programme on Friday.
The farmers, who had been protesting in front of the deputy commissioner’s officer for more than 40 days over shortage of irrigation water, decided to stage a dharna in front of the varsity when they found out the agriculture minister was scheduled to visit.
In wake of the dharna, the administration deployed heavy police to maintain law and order.
Later, a 11-member core committee met the minister, who assured the farmers that he will discuss the issue with the chief minister.
Kurda Ram, pradhan of Sanyukt Jal Sangharsh Samiti (SJSS) who was part of the committee that met Dhankar, said, “The minister has only given us assurances. We don't want any assurance, we want water in our canals for two weeks in a month.”
He added, “Till 2001, the land of 80 villages under the Adampur block was very fertile and farmers had a good yield. But now, the land has become barren, and almost 20,000 farmers are under huge debts. Yet the government is not giving us water. So we have decided to court arrest with our cattle if the government fails to provide us water for irrigation purposes.”
Earlier this month, the farmers had held a mahapanchayat of 160 villages of Hisar over the canal water issue and threatened the government to court arrest with their cattle if the state government failed to provide water by March 5.
Earlier on February 5, thousands of farmers, riding on over 2,000 tractors and trolleys, had gathered in Hisar demanding water two weeks a month for their fields.
Later talking to mediapersons, OP Dhankar said, “I am in touch with the irrigation department and have asked the department to provide water for the state’s farmers. I also came to know that the farmers in Hisar are facing water problems and the matter will be soon sorted out. Most importantly, the BJP government is trying to increase the per/acre returns for farmers. Our target is to ensure that the farmers get ₹1 lakh/acre for their produce and for the purpose we have recommended that they change the cycle routine crop.”