SATISH HANDA
Haryana state faces severe water crisis as water level underground fast declining since past sometime posing a severe threat to our coming generation. Information reveals, nearly half dozen districts in north and southern part in the state are situated in dark zone having nearly 10 meters drop in water level underground. The districts situated in central part of Haryana are having drop in water level in underground nearly five to eight meters from surface, whereas, water level in underground in northern part of Haryana has dropped four to six meters from surface.
At the time when Haryana state facing epidemic outbreak due to corona virus spread, state government is worried about the shortage of water level underground and decided to impose complete ban over cultivation of paddy crop requiring huge quantity of water for its growth till situation improves in the state and made appeal to farmers for cultivating alternate crops and vegetables to save water, which was opposed not only by farmers as well as leaders of political parties in opposition since paddy crop in northern part of Haryana brings handsome return to farmers although residents in Haryana state consume much less quantity of rice as compared to wheat but at the same times demand of rice is too much in other parts in the country as well as in export markets. Rice, especially Basmati produced in Haryana state has maximum demand in large number of countries across the world as such farmers are not prepared too part with this crop at any cost having support by all political parties in opposition as well as powerful farmers association Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU).
However, Haryana state government had to roll back its decision banning cultivation of paddy crop in dark zone areas in the state within few days facing heavy opposition from every side including government’s own MLAs and senior leaders when Chief Minister said that it was not a notification but a advisory to farmers. He made an appeal to farmers luring to provide them financial assistance Rs 7500 per acre area in case they change pattern of crops require less water growing vegetables and fruits for which state horticulture department in the state would extend all help in growth and sale of produce. Khatter said that government with the assistance of Indo-Israel project would develop 44 plots in the state of area around an acre in declared dark zones all over in the state and provide handsome subsidies on the cultivation of alternate crops or fruit and vegetables.
Information reveals, Haryana is facing acute shortage of 40 lakh acre feet water in the state. Although decision of SYL canal water by the court has been given in favour of Haryana state but neither canal constructed nor water arrive so far in past several years and Punjab government declared not to share a drop of water to any other state in spite of court orders as such farmers in Haryana state are deprived of their rights. Yamuna canal water flowing across the state but most of water is being consumed by Delhi and farmers in Haryana are against deprived of their rights to grow paddy crop in their land due to shortage of water required by paddy crop. Moreover, in case of water level underground has witnessed further fall in past sometime likely to cause sufferings to coming generation in the state due to water crisis.
Information also reveals that state government Haryana has imposed ban over cultivation of paddy crop in the state restricted to eight blocks in the state for which Haryana state government has given option to farmers to provide them assistance for Rs 7500 each acre land under ‘Mera Paani, Meri Virasat’ scheme launched by Haryana state government in case of cultivation of an alternate crop in dark zone or another area in the state, besides offering attractive subsidy up to 80% on purchase of farm machinery, micro irrigation and drip irrigation systems as well as fixing minimum support price of all alternative crops which was strongly opposed by several prominent leaders of political parties in opposition including Congress leaders Bhupinder Singh Hooda former chief minister Haryana, Kiran Choudhary, Randeep Surjewala AICC chief convener, HPCC president Kumari Shelja, former INLD leader of opposition in Vidhan Sabha Abhey Singh Chautala, former minister Ashok Arora and BKU president Gurnam Singh Chanduni said that few blocks in Haryana state including Kaithal, Kuukshetra, Karnal, Sirsa and Fatehabad districts are unfit for the growth of any crops other than paddy.
According to Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khatter, few leaders of political parties in opposition having habit of protesting state government knowingly that there is acute shortage of water in Haryana state and water saving at this stage would prove boon for our coming generation as such all political leaders should join hands with ruling government in this regard. On the other hand, Deepender Hooda Rajya Sabha member raised a question that in case Haryana state is facing shortage of water why ruling BJP-JJP government in the state stopped work on Dadupur-Nalwi Canal Water Project causing huge loss to government spent amount on it in past years. He said, BJP government has neither any policy nor a vision as such Congress will extend support to suffering farmers against government decision to impose ban over cultivation of paddy crop suggesting to think over implementation of this faulty decision against farmers in the state. Meanwhile Abhey Singh Chautala, too, opposed the decision saying that it would not be in favour of farmers and even large numbers of BJP MLAs belonging to state government as well as its alliance party JJP are also strongly opposing the decision.
