SRI GANGANAGAR FACES IRRIGATION CRISIS: SEVERE WATER SHORTAGE IN GANG CANAL

THREAT TO SOWING OF MUNG AND OTHER KHARIF CROPS

Raj  Sadosh/Abohar

Farmers in Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar district had been waiting for the right weather window to sow mung and other kharif crops. However, just as the optimal sowing time arrived, water supply in the Gang Canal — which provides irrigation and drinking water to Sri Ganganagar from Punjab — has suddenly decreased sharply.

Project Chairman Harvinder Singh Gill expressed deep concern over the situation today. He warned that if the water supply is not immediately increased, a major crisis will arise for farmers in the district regarding crop sowing.
Harvinder Singh Gill stated that the farmers of this region have already suffered heavy losses during the wheat season and are in no position to bear any further damage. He appealed to local farmer organizations and ordinary farmers to prepare for a major agitation to press Punjab for increased water supply.

According to him, only through sustained pressure can the situation be improved; otherwise, Punjab will continue its arbitrary actions.

The Project Chairman noted that every year in June, Punjab reduces Sri Ganganagar’s share of water because its own farmers need to sow paddy. However, this time such a cut was not expected as the water level in the Pong Dam has reached approximately 1,330 feet.

Gill pointed out another reason for the shortage: the poor condition of the Firozpur Feeder Canal, which feeds the Gang Canal. This canal has recently undergone extensive repairs. Its capacity has increased from around 9,000 cusecs to 11,300 cusecs after repairs. Despite this, Sri Ganganagar is not receiving its full share of water, which is extremely unfair.
Harvinder Singh Gill highlighted yet another important factor.

He said that arrangements to draw water from the Hussainiwala Head this year have also not been made. The cleaning work of the old Bikaner Canal remains incomplete, even though the Rajasthan Government had released the budget for this work to Punjab in February last year.

If the cleaning had been completed, water could have been supplied up to RD 45 Head, ensuring full flow into the Gang Canal. Punjab Canals Brimming, Gang Canal Starved
Sri Gill informed that at RD 45 Head, Punjab is running its regional canals at full capacity using water from the Firozpur Feeder Canal. The Eastern Canal and Sirhind Feeder Canal are running completely full.

Additionally, 600 cusecs of water is being reversed into the Luthra system. Water theft in the Gang Canal within Punjab territory has also increased significantly. Farmers have installed a large number of pipes in the canal, and neither the administration nor the canal department is taking any action against it.

Water Level Dropping Rapidly : Giving figures, the Project Chairman said that on Sunday (day before yesterday), Rajasthan was receiving about 2,000 cusecs at the Khakha Head. This dropped to 1,400 cusecs on Monday, and today morning it has further reduced to only 1,376 cusecs. The water level is continuously declining. If farmers do not build pressure, this quantity may decrease further, completely disrupting the sowing of mung and other kharif crops.
Harvinder Singh Gill has appealed to the Chief Secretary of Rajasthan to immediately speak with the Chief Secretary of Punjab. He added that although several memorandums have been submitted to the Sri Ganganagar district administration earlier, the solution cannot be found at the local level. This issue can only be resolved at the state level.
GKSS Warns the Government

On the same issue, the largest farmer organization in Sri Ganganagar, the Gramin Mazdoor Kisan Samiti (GKSS), has also expressed serious concern and launched a separate campaign.

The GKSS detailed that the Punjab Government has strengthened the Sirhind Canal and is running it at full capacity. The Eastern Canal has been filled completely. According to the committee, Luthra Head used to receive water via the Hussainiwala route. For the past two years, the Punjab Government has strengthened the old Eastern Canal from RD 45 and installed gates of the old Bikaner Canal at RD 45.

Punjab is now diverting approximately 6,200 cusecs to the Sirhind Canal, 2,500 cusecs to the Eastern Canal, and 1,200 cusecs towards Luthra — totaling around 9,900 cusecs from the Firozpur Feeder. After the increased capacity of the new Firozpur Feeder, this has reached up to 11,500 cusecs. Rajasthan is receiving only the remaining water (after losses), which is around 1,400 cusecs.

The GKSS has warned that if the Rajasthan Government and farmers remain silent, this situation will continue for the next three months during the paddy sowing season. If pressure is applied, 1,200 cusecs can be given to Luthra Head via the Hussainiwala route as before, which would increase the water in the Gang Canal to 2,500 cusecs.
Government Silence Forcing Farmers to Act : Farmer organizations say that the Rajasthan Government has neither got the cleaning of the Gang Canal done in Punjab territory nor taken any strong stand on the water issue. Farmers will now have to unite and awaken the government.

They have demanded that the Rajasthan Government immediately intervene by approaching the Bhakra-Beas Management Board (BBMB) and pressuring the Punjab Government, otherwise this crisis may drag on for a long time.
Farmers are demanding that the state government take swift action so that the sowing of kharif crops can be completed on time and the agricultural economy of the region does not suffer further losses.