Farmers and representatives of multiple political parties in Yeola, Nashik district, have demanded the immediate release of two irrigation rotations through the Palakhed Left Bank Canal, warning that continued delay could damage standing crops amid drought-like conditions. The demand was raised at a meeting held at the Agricultural Produce Market Committee, where participants also warned of an intensified agitation if water is not released quickly.
Hundreds of farmers attended the meeting, which focused on the shortage of water for crops and the need to schedule two rotations from the canal. Participants said the absence of adequate rainfall had created drought-like conditions in the taluka and that standing crops required urgent irrigation support.
During the meeting, Shiv Sena’s Shinde faction taluka chief Pandurang Shelke contacted Maharashtra Guardian Minister Girish Mahajan by telephone and enabled him to speak with the farmers. Mahajan reportedly said that an irrigation rotation would be released on December 10. Farmer organisation leader Santu Patil Zambre, however, said that waiting until then could leave crops severely damaged and demanded an earlier release.
Mahajan also suggested that a farmers’ delegation meet him in Nashik within two days to discuss the issue. The report did not state whether a final decision had been taken on releasing the two requested rotations or whether the December 10 schedule would be advanced.
Zambre said that water should be allocated for drinking needs while still providing two irrigation rotations because, according to him, sufficient water remained in the district’s dams. He claimed that the storage level in the dam was still 92% and urged the authorities to release water through the Palakhed system immediately to protect standing crops. He also warned that farmers could launch an agitation if their demand was not accepted.
The meeting brought together farmer representatives and local office-bearers from different political parties. Speakers said party differences should be set aside over the irrigation demand and pledged to participate in what they described as a farmers’ struggle for water. Participants also discussed details of the Palakhed Left Bank Canal and water availability in the reservoir.
The immediate administrative question is whether the authorities will approve an earlier irrigation release, retain the December 10 schedule or provide a revised timetable after discussions with the farmers’ delegation. The next course of the proposed agitation is expected to be decided after the meeting with Mahajan and the authorities’ decision on the canal rotation.
