Panchna Dam dispute becomes a war in Rajasthan, how is it taking the form of caste tension?

Panchna Dam is in Karauli district of Rajasthan. The water of this dam has been stopped, while the Rajasthan High Court has ordered to release its water into the canals. But these days a big controversy has arisen regarding the distribution of its water. The dispute over Panchna Dam has now taken the form of not just irrigation but legal, social and political conflict. People from 39 villages have been keeping vigil near the dam for more than a month. The reason for this vigil is the High Court’s order in May, in which the government was ordered to soon release the dam water into the canal of the command area.

Now thousands of people from dozens of villages are protesting against the Panchna Dam. Along with this, the state’s main opposition party Congress leader and former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has also jumped in. He warned that if the Panchna Dam dispute was not resolved in time, it could take the form of ethnic tension. Gehlot has appealed to the BJP government of the state to immediately intervene in this matter. Also, an appeal has been made to find a solution by holding talks between the Gurjar and Meena communities that have come face to face due to the dispute.

At the same time, the challenge of the BJP government has become that on one hand it has to follow the orders of the High Court and on the other hand it has to keep the protesting villages calm.

Also read: ‘Conspiracy to remove 3 Chief Ministers, Mohan Yadav is its victim’, Akhilesh Yadav came to the rescue

74 villages at the root of dispute

The root of the dispute about Panchna Dam is that there are a total of 74 villages around it. These villages are divided into two camps. 39 out of 74 villages fall in the submergence area of ​​the dam. These same people are opposing the release of dam water. At the same time, farmers of 35 villages are demanding release of water in the canals so that their crops can be irrigated.

What is the controversy over Panchna Dam?

In fact, the controversy regarding the release of water from Panchna Dam has deepened in the last few weeks. There are many villages around the dam. Most of the people living mainly in the upper part of the dam belong to the Gurjar community. This Gurjar community is staking its claim on the water of the dam. These people are opposing the release of water citing their rights on water.

On the other hand, there are dozens of villages in the low-lying areas also. Most of these areas are from Meena community. This community are farmers, who depend on the water of Panchna Dam for their farming. The Meena community is demanding release of water for irrigation of their fields. Due to this deadlock, Gurjar and Meena communities are protesting.

Thousands of people are protesting near the Karauli-Gangapur city border. This dam is present in Karauli district of eastern Rajasthan. There is a large population of both Gurjar and Meena communities in this entire area.

What did the Gangapur City MLA say?

Congress MLA from Gangapur City Ramkesh Meena said that the agitation demanding release of water from Panchna Dam into the canals has been going on for more than two weeks and thousands of farmers are participating in it. He said that the movement has gained further strength with the support of many villages. He demanded that water should be released from the dam as per the directions of the High Court.

What did Agriculture Minister Kirori Lal Meena say?

On this matter, Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Kirori Lal Meena says, ‘I met the Chief Minister and discussed the situation of Panchna Dam and have demanded to release water in the canals of the dam. Despite clear instructions from the High Court orders, water has not been released into the canals of the command area for years. Farmers are suffering financial losses. Due to non-availability of water, 9,985 hectares of land is deprived of irrigation and more than 1.25 lakh citizens of about 35 villages are being affected.

Also read: ‘If you could laugh, even the coconut tree would laugh at you’, why did the High Court say?

Former CM made serious allegations against the government

At the same time, former CM Ashok Gehlot alleged that the attitude of the government is making the situation more serious and creating situations of conflict between communities. He says, ‘The way the government is working, it seems that such a situation is being allowed to happen deliberately. There is already tension between the communities over the issue of Panchna Dam. The government should have tried to find a solution by calling representatives of both the parties, Panch-Patels and public representatives.

Senior Congress leader Gehlot has alleged that protests have been going on for about two to three weeks, but no meaningful dialogue has been initiated by the government. He has said, ‘At least an effort should have been made to make both the parties sit together and find a solution. The High Court is continuously giving instructions and the officials are under pressure, but no progress is visible at the ground level.

Chief Minister should intervene himself

He said that Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma himself should intervene in this matter and form a team which will discuss and find a solution in time, so that the matter can be resolved peacefully and everyone can get justice. If this does not happen then such circumstances send a message that the governance system in the state is weak.