Gujarat: Farmers defer march after assurance on releasing water

Farmers in Bhavnagar district postponed protests after irrigation authorities assured that efforts will be made to release water.

Authorities admitted they have surplus water, but need permission from the State to release it for irrigation in the wake of an unprecedented drought situation. Farmers said they will wait until next Thursday. And if water is not released, they will stage a rasta roko for an indefinite period.

Farmers of Talaja, Mahuva, Palitana and Ghogha villages have been demanding water from Shetrunji dam in Palitana district. The region is known for its onion produce and mango and chiku orchards. Farmers have paid for three rounds of irrigation water, but only two rounds have been released. They claim that onion crop will dry up if additional water is not provided. Moreover, with the mango season approaching, they fear that the mango crop will be damaged if adequate water is not provided.

Close to 5,000 farmers gathered at the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) market in Talaja on Friday and held discussions with local officials from the irrigation department. "Officials admitted that Shetrunji dam has 56 million cubic feet of surplus water. We said if there is surplus water, then why not release to save the winter crop and fruit orchards?" said Sagar Rabari, founder president of Gujarat Khedut Ekta Samiti. Rabari, who is leading the protests.

Sources in the know said local irrigation officials are not allowed to release water for irrigation as the state is going through a severe drought. Officials will prepare a proposal to release water for irrigation and send it to the state government for approval. However, Rabari said that if water is not released, severe protests will be held from Thursday.