Water lifting ban for agriculture lifted till June 22 after protest by farmers

Kolhapur: The irrigation department in Kolhapur on Friday issued orders allowing lifting of water for agriculture and industrial purposes for the next three days — till Monday in Kolhapur and Sangli districts.For the last four days, the farmers from Kolhapur and Sangli districts opposed the state govt’s (Water Resources Department) decision to impose a water lifting ban from June 13 onwards.The farmers alleged that even when there is enough stock available in the district dams that could easily cater to drinking water, agriculture, as well as industrial water supply till Aug 31, the WRD has unnecessarily declared a ban on water lifting to dig a graveyard for farmers.Aarti Bartakke, Deputy Executive Engineer, Kolhapur Irrigation Department (North), issued the orders to lift the ban on Friday. “Llifting water for agriculture on both banks of the available water in the basins of the rivers Panchaganga, Bhogavati, Warna, Tulsi, Kasari, Kadvi, Kumbhi, Dhamani, Jambhali in Kolhapur and Sangli districts is allowed for June 20, June 21, and June 22,” he said.Earlier on Friday, farmers along with former MP Raju Shetti staged a protest outside the district collectorate and submitted a written statement of demands to district collector Dr Vijay Rathod.

Shetti, while talking to TOI, said, “In Kolhapur district, when water is available in the dam, state govt and administration submitted a false report and imposed a ban on withdrawals without any prior intimation to the farmers. This agitation has been going on in the district for the last four days. Farmers had started sowing, fertilizer was sprayed, and if water is not given, then the crops will go to waste.”He added, “Crops are getting damaged in the absence of water.

Milk farmers do not have water to satisfy the thirst of their cattle. Water from Krishna river is getting discharged up to 125 cusecs into Karnataka state at Rajapur barrage, even though they haven’t demanded it. Water that is available and sufficient till Aug 31 should be provided for agriculture. Even if a drought takes place, Kolhapur district doesn’t go completely dry.

”After meeting the district collector and discussing the water scarcity issue, Shetti said, “The district collector has informed us that water supply will continue for the next three days. A decision will be taken regarding the next water cycle later, depending upon the water stock. This is the victory of the farmers.”