North Gujarat farmers protest against "failure" of govt to provide Narmada canal water

By A Representative
Farmer representatives of from several villages gathered on Monday at village Bhramanvada, Chanasma taluka in Patan district, North Gujarat, to protest against the refusal of the Gujarat government to provide them Narmada water from the canal passing through the region. Belonging to 24 villages of Chanasma taluka they have been petitioning the government and local authorities for irrigation water from the Narmada canal for quite some time.
“The area falls within the Narmada command area and they are entitled to the water”, said Sagar Rabari, president, Gujarat Khedut Ekta Manch, a non-political farmers’ organization. “They had issued an ultimatum to the government on Saturday saying that if the water was not provided to their fields, they would draw water on their own. The government, characteristically, remained deaf and mute.”
Amidst heavy police presence, the farmers set off for the Khorsam pumping station to lift the water themselves. However, the police stopped them. Farmers argued with the police and the pumping station staff. They were informed by the staff of the pumping station that a joint meeting was being held in Gandhinagar to decide on the matter.

The farmers decided to wait for a positive decision, declaring, if they were not provided with water, they would proceed to Chanasma Char Rasta and conduct a roadblock agitation.

Comments

Shrinking settlements, fading schools: The Tibetan exile crisis in India

By Tseten Lhundup* Since the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959, the Tibetan exile community in Dharamsala has established the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) as the guardian of Tibetan culture and identity. Once admired for its democratic governance , educational system , and religious vitality , the exile community now faces an alarming demographic and institutional decline.

To Sonam Wangchuk: 'Will undertake 70 hour solidarity fast in Gujarat'

By Martin Macwan * Dear Colleague Sonam Wangchuk, I have never met you personally. I wrote a short article at the time of your arrest. Your work correctly introduces you. There is truth in your words. You have embarked on a fast, following the footsteps of Gandhiji. Your intention is to make people think. Your demand is reasonable; I believe that the resignation of a single education minister will not improve the state of education in India. However, the question you have raised is extremely important for the future generation of the marginalized. Education is the key to power, development, and progress, which empowers a citizen.

Gujarat police SOP sparks questions over communal profiling

By Shabnam Hashmi* The Gujarat government must be held accountable for what appears to be a deeply disturbing instance of state-sponsored communal profiling. Ahmedabad resident Sahal Qureshi recently shared with me an official document , which I translated with the help of AI before forwarding it to several media organisations and political leaders.

Counterview

Search This Blog