Command area farmers to protest water to Industries

Sambalpur,Oct19(UNI) Notwithstanding the assurance from the Hirakud dam authorities and the expert committee that there would be no scarcity of water for irrigation in the command area,farmers of western orissa are planning for a big show down.

Various farmers' organization from Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Balangir,Bargarh, Jharsuguda, and Sonepur district are now preparing for a massive demonstration on November six next to protest water to industries.

Even the farmers in the non irrigated areas in the Western Orissa have extended their full support to the farmers of the command areas.

Farmer leader Lalit Bhoi said though the farmers of the rain-fed area have no relation with Hirakud Dam water,yet they are willing to join hands with their brothers and give them a moral boost in their stand.

Sources said farmers and their leaders are holding meetings in different parts of the command area and rain-fed area as part of awareness campaigns with a call to the people to take part in November 6 agitation in large number.

The farmers are very much apprehensive that after the allotment of water to all the existing and proposed industries, there would be hardly any water left for irrigation, said Murari Purohit, a farmer leader.

The state government,he said has been advocating the idea that there would be no scarcity of water for agricultural activities in a bid to pacify the growing discontentment among the farmers and the general public.

But the future is crystal clear and the farmers are bound to face scarcity of water for agriculture purposes once the large industries started drawing water from the Hirakud reservoir, Mr.Purohit remarked.

UNI