In Harda, farmers have taken to blocking the Indore-Betul National Highway in protest against a severe water shortage affecting their crops.
The unrest, which escalated on Thursday, follows frustrations that have been building since the end of March, when water was released from the Tawa Dam for irrigation purposes. Despite the release on March 27, farmers claim that water has yet to reach key agricultural areas, particularly the Jugariya Minor and surrounding tail-end regions. The delay is wreaking havoc on their moong crops, which rely on timely irrigation to thrive. The farmers’ protest began on Wednesday evening near Abgaonkala, where a gathering of frustrated agricultural workers expressed their dissatisfaction with the lack of progress in resolving the water crisis. They noted that although canal water was officially sent to the district on March 29, it still hasn’t reached the tail-end canals that serve the agricultural fields in need. With the absence of canal department officials on-site, the farmers have taken matters into their own hands, blocking the highway to draw attention to their plight.
According to the farmers, the core issue lies in the obstruction of water at the head of the canal system. They allege that gates have been installed on several minor canals above the Jugariya Minor, preventing water from flowing to the tail areas. This blockage has led to widespread dissatisfaction among farmers from 30 to 40 villages, who have been deprived of water essential for their crops.
In a bid to resolve the situation, administrative officials, including the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) and the local police station in-charge, visited the protestors on Thursday. However, their attempts to pacify the farmers were met with resistance. The protestors refused to engage with the officials, sending them back and continuing their blockade. As a result, the highway became a site of a massive traffic jam, with vehicles lined up on both sides of the road. The farmers are now threatening to intensify their protest if immediate action is not taken. They have warned that if water does not reach the tail areas soon, they will escalate the situation by staging an indefinite sit-in at the highway, blocking the crucial NH-59 near Abgaonkala. Their demands are clear: the irrigation department must station personnel on the ground to ensure that the water supply reaches the affected areas without further delays, and local law enforcement must ensure the smooth functioning of the irrigation system.
This standoff highlights the critical issues facing farmers in the region, where delays in irrigation water can have disastrous consequences for crops. As the protest continues, the question remains whether the local authorities will be able to resolve the issue before the situation worsens further. With farmers pushing for immediate solutions and officials caught in the crossfire, the outcome of this protest will have significant implications for the future of agricultural practices in Harda.
Harda Farmers Block NH59 Over Irrigation Delays
