Eight farmers were arrested for water theft

A case of organized theft of non-perennial Southern canal in the form of water by rich farmers has emerged. Many pipes kept in the fields from the canal have been confiscated in illegal manner. 

Official sources said that  the farmers of the politically affected Jalalabad constituency were allegedly stealing water for several years in collaboration with officials of the Irrigation department. A police team headed by Khui Khera SHO and SDO Irrigation, Pawan Bishnoi Seized pipe and motors from various places.

Harichand and Mahindra Kumar were involved in the police functioning of the accused. They have been sued under Section 70  of IPC section 379 of the Canal Act, under section 3 of the Prevention of Damage Property Act of Punjab. Special six farmers are yet to be identified. Bishnoi said that the department had issued invoices to 19 farmers and police action against them was not done till now.

Sources said that Deputy Commissioner Isha Kalia, under the leadership of former MLA Mohinder Kumar Rinwa, was informed about water theft after some of the villages.  located at the end of the canal of the  after which action was taken. In Sajrana  village, it was found that some farmers had planted motors and had several feet pipe down the ground between the canals and their  fields.

Siddhartha Rinwa of Bereka village and Hardip Dhaka of Khanpur village whose land is located at the end of the canal tail. Said that at least 18 villages were facing a shortage of water due to theft. After contacting for nearly a decade, Superintendent Engineer Irrigation HS Chahal said that he has instructed officials to take stringent action against the people responsible for the theft. Sinhpura, Chahalan, and Thaliwala and Bodala  villages were under illegal activity.

Some villagers alleged that the farmers were selling water after stealing it. Amar Kumar Singh of Lakhula village alleged that he was raising this issue for a long time, but the police failed to take action against him for working against the accused.

Fazilka DSP Narendra said that eight farmers have been booked and action will be taken against them after receiving reports from the irrigation department. Upon contact, Superintending Engineer Irrigation HS Chahal said that he has instructed officials to take stringent action against the people responsible for the theft

Bhanu Pratap

krishi jagran