The farmers of Terai-Bhawar region have upped their ante over UP’s monopoly on Uttarakhand’s over Rs 5000 crore properties, including dams and canals.
They have also blamed the respective State Governments for the present stalemate, mounting pressure on the present State Government for early settlement of the properties by taking to the streets.
The control of Uttarakhand’s properties including canals and dams still lies with the UP Government. That is why the farmers have to face a lot of difficulties to get their due share of water for irrigation purpose, said Shailendra Mohan Singhal, MlA from Jaspur in Udham Singh Nagar while talking to The Pioneer.
Therefore, we demand immediate transfer of the properties to Uttarakhand from UP. We would take up the matter with the Chief Minister to settle the long-pending matters with UP, he added.
It is worth mention here that the farmers of Uttarakhand’s Terai-Bhawar belt are the worst sufferers due to this unaccomplished task of proper distribution of properties between the two States, even after a decade of the division of the erstwhile Uttar Pradesh.
There are more than 60 canals, out of which about 40 canals totally flow in Uttarakhand. But the UP Government controls these canals. So we have to depend on the UP Government for release of water for irrigation, lament farmers here.
Had the properties including canals and dams been under Uttarakhand Government’s control, perhaps the Sharda Canal flood incident in Khatima of August 31 that inflicted a huge loss of properties and damage to hydropower project, could have been avoided, maintained the farmers here.Apart from canals and other properties there are about half a dozen dams whose control and maintenance is also in the hands of the UP Government. More so, these canals and dams are old. In case any Sharda canal like incident occurs who will be responsible, the agitating farmers and people at large here express concen.
Unlike the hilly regions the Terai-Bhawar pockets of Uttarakhand depend on artificial source of water like canal and dams for irrigation to a large extent.
And it is also a fact that this same Terai -Bhawar part of Uttarakhand is also considered as the most resourceful and fertile piece of land from agriculture point of view playing a significantrole in the State’s growth.
However, since control over natural resources like water still lies with the UP Government, the farmers and others who have todepend on water to a great extent here in this Terai-Bhawar segment have always been at the receiving end, it is alleged.