Abohar/SRIGANGANAGAR, Feb 21 — Hundreds of farmers blocked two major state highways on Friday, alleging that the government failed to honor a written commitment to provide sufficient water through the Gang Canal. The protest follows the closure of the Ferozepur Feeder canal on January 21 for a 36-day reconstruction project.
Demonstrators gathered near the Phoosewala toll plaza and the CC Headworks, halting bus services while private vehicles were forced onto narrow link roads. Heavy police and administrative contingents were deployed to both sites as slogans were raised against the Rajasthan government.
Farmer leaders stated that the administration had promised a flow of 2,100 cusecs in the Gang Canal to ensure at least 1,500 cusecs reached the Khakhan head near Abohar. However, protesters affirmed that only 1,400 cusecs have been received to date.
“The promises were not fulfilled,” a spokesperson maintained, noting that previous suggestions to clean the old Bikaner Canal to improve flow were ignored. While Water Resources Department Chief Engineer Amarjeet Singh Mehrada has reportedly offered verbal assurances that full supply will be restored shortly, the farm unions asserted that no actual increase in water levels has been observed.
