ADEQUATE WATER IN RESERVOIRS, YET CANALS ARE DRY

ADEQUATE WATER IN RESERVOIRS, YET CANALS ARE DRY

28-JUNE-ENG 3

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

BHABHUA------------------------------Sudhakar Singh, MP from the Buxar Lok Sabha constituency and former Agriculture Minister, has written to the Chief Minister expressing serious concern over the dismal state of Bihar's irrigation system. He stated that despite the availability of sufficient water in the state's major reservoirs, the canals are not being operated; this is severely affecting paddy transplantation and causing distress among farmers.

The MP noted that currently, water availability stands at approximately 40% in the Rihand Dam, 60% in the Bansagar Dam, 60% in the Durgawati Reservoir, and 60% in the Musakhand Dam. Despite this, water is not being released into the canals for irrigation. He termed this an administrative failure on the part of the government and a sign of gross apathy towards farmers.

Sudhakar Singh stated that according to the Bihar government's Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), canal operations should commence on June 1st each year; however, even though the month of June has ended, most canals remain closed or have not received adequate water flow. This is directly impacting thousands of farmers who are unable to transplant paddy on time. He warned that if paddy transplantation is not carried out on time, the impact will not be limited to the Kharif crop alone; the Rabi crop will also be affected. Wheat sowing would be delayed, production would decline, and a crisis would loom over both the state's food security and farmers' incomes.

The MP remarked that while the government makes grand claims about doubling farmers' income and fostering agricultural development, it is failing to ensure the timely utilization of available water resources. This constitutes an injustice to farmers and cannot be accepted under any circumstances.

He demanded that the Chief Minister order the immediate release of water for irrigation from all relevant reservoirs and canal systems in the state. Furthermore, he called for strict action against officials found negligent in canal operations—holding them accountable—and urged that directives be issued to restore irrigation systems on a war footing to facilitate paddy transplantation.

Sudhakar Singh stated, "Paddy transplantation does not wait for government files to move. If irrigation water is not made available to farmers in time, the entire responsibility will lie with the state government and the concerned administrative machinery. The government must take immediate, effective steps to safeguard the interests of lakhs of farmers in Bihar."