Facing opposition ire over government insensitivity towards farmers, Irrigation Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav has asked officers to provide water in canals otherwise action would be taken against them.
“Paucity of rains has affected farmers the most. Directives have been issued to ensure that water should reach the tail of each canal. The crop should not die because of lack of water in the canal. If Government receives complaint action would be taken against the concerned officer,” Yadav told officials during a review meeting here on Thursday.
He showed his annoyance over the working of irrigation department and questioned as why de-silting of canals was not done in time. “The officials were asked to ensure that water should reach the tail of each canal. They were asked to do de-silting through MANREGA. Still it has come to light that in many parts of the state, particularly in eastern UP, farmers are craving for water,” Yadav said.
The opposition parties have been claiming that kharif crop has been destroyed because of truant rain and lack of water in canals. The BJP has claimed that 69 districts out of 75 have been facing drought-like situation. It has asked the state government to provide water to the farmers at the earliest.
“There is no denying fact that situation in the villages is bad. The rains have failed us for the second time in a row. In March the crop was destroyed because of excess rain. Government is trying its best to ensure availability of water in canals,” he said.
“The tube wells should work to its full capacity. The villages are now getting electricity for 12 hour. This is the responsibility of officials to ensure that all tube wells across the state are energized,” Yadav said.
Meanwhile, BJP spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak said that minister’s directives came too late. “The BJP has been saying that canals are not working to its full capacity and now minister has admitted that these have not been de-silted. The de-silting of canals are done in April-May. Big question is as why the Government has failed to do its basic job,” Pathak said in his statement.
later, talking to reporters Yadav said that BJP and RSS were behind Dadri case. “Initial report suggests involvement of BJP and RSS in the lynching case. BJP has done it with an eye on the 2017 elections,” he said.