Jaisalmer: When the entire country is celebrating Diwali, farmers in Jaisalmer are celebrating the festival at a mahapadao at Indira Gandhi Canal demanding release of sufficient water for sowing Rabi crops in Mohangarh.

Farmers need 550-600 cusec water but are getting only 189 cusec. The protesters believe their share of water is being given to farmers in Hanumangarh and Sriganganagar disrticts.

Jaisalmer farmers at the tail end of canal are sitting at a mahapadao since last Sunday. Till now, the district administration has not been able to offer a solution to the farmers due to which there is lot of resentment among them. Farmer leaders said if the government fails to meet their demand, they will intensify the stir.

Lale Khan, a protesting farmer said, as per arrangement Jaisalmer should get 2100 cusec water but it is getting only 500 cusec water. At this time the farmers are required to be in fields for sowing but they are forced to be at mahapadao since the government is not releasing water for irrigation.

Panchayat Samiti Pradhan, Amardeen Fakir said the Mahapadaon was called due to govt’s anti farmer policy. If this time goes away then sowing cannot be done and farmers will suffer heavy losses. This will result in economic slow down and price of crops will increase.

The protesters blamed the mismanagement on the officers. The farmers are already burdened with loans and with water not being released in canals farmers are not able to sow which will adversely affect the yields of crops. Farmer leader Achalram Jat said government representatives were not holding talks with farmers due to which the resentment is growing.