Move to scrap canal project is anti-farmer: Surjewala

KURUKSHETRA: Congress party’s national media in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala 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 Dadupur-Nalvi canal 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 for the land alone, besides spending another ₹111.70 crore for construction of these canals and 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 Dadupur-Nalvi Canal in the Saraswati Project at ‘Uncha Chandana’ village and now is shutting down the Dadupur-Nalvi Canal Project would automatically mean shutting 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