Harda farmers block Indore-Betul highway over irrigation water shortage

Bhopal: Farmers blocked the Indore-Betul National highway on Thursday, protesting the lack of water for irrigation in Harda. The farmers turned back administrative officials including SDM Shanu Devdiya and Handia police station in-charge RP Kavreti, who had arrived to address their concerns.

The unrest began on Wednesday night near Abgaonkala, where farmers gathered to voice their frustration. They claimed that water had been released from the Tawa Dam on March 27 for moong crop irrigation, but despite four days having passed, water had not yet reached Jugariya Minor and the areas downstream.

They said while canal water reached the district on March 29, it still hasn't arrived in the main canal serving the tail area. He pointed out that no canal department officials are present on the ground to resolve the issue. As a result, farmers from about 30 to 40 villages have been unable to receive the necessary water for their crops.

The root cause of the issue, according to agitating farmers, is that farmers in the head area are improperly blocking water by installing gates in all the minors above Jugariya Minor. The farmers have warned that if water does not reach the tail area soon, they will escalate their protest by staging an indefinite dharna and blocking NH-59 near Abgaonkala.

They have demanded that irrigation department employees be stationed at their duty posts and that the police administration ensure the smooth functioning of the irrigation system.

When officers arrived to explain the situation on Thursday, they were met with resistance from the farmers and were sent back. As a result, a long queue of vehicles formed on both sides of the highway.