Faridkot: "Jal Jeevan Bachao Morcha '', a joint forum of all the like minded social organizations has called for a protest rally on October 27 on the premises of mini secretariat Faridkot at 12 noon.
The morcha has been formed to stop the relining of the Rajasthan and Sirhind feeder, which originate from Harike Headworks in Ferozpur so that the subsoil water may not deplete in the town.
Both the canals, which had left a large part of agriculture land of Faridkot, Muktsar and other districts water logged, are being relined now with a layer of concrete and poly sheets.
But the Faridkot residents are at loggerheads with the government of Punjab over this project demanding that at least some kilometres of the canals passing alongside the town should not be relined under this project.
“If the canals are relined with concrete and poly sheets as per the project, it will badly lead to the depletion of the sub soil water in the town and adjoining areas. Most of the town is dependent on canal water because the sub soil water of the town is not fit for human consumption. If the canals are constructed with concrete material, there will be no seepage of the canal water into the ground. It may lead to the dryness of the thousands of the trees raised alongside the canals besides depletion of the ground water,” said Sandeep Arora, a member of the Society for Ecology and Environmental resources(SEER) which is spearheading the campaign against the project under the banner of JJB Morcha.
The Jal jeevan Bachao Morcha has also been running a signature campaign against this project which has been supported by nearly 5000 locals so far.
The Morcha is using all means of communication, including the announcements in town, announcements from the loudspeakers at the religious places in the district besides all social media tolls to get more and more support against the government project.
The Morcha claims that if the canals are not touched at some kilometres in Faridkot, it would not have any damaging impact because Faridkot town is not water logged.
“Almost all the opposition parties and all local social organizations have come to our support. Even the AAP representatives have also assured us to discuss that issue with the CM Bhagwant Singh Mann and we hope that we will be heard,” said Sandeep Arora.
The Morcha fears that if the canals are rebuilt under this project, with the passage of time, the sub soil water will deplete and all the greenery along the canals and the hand pumps will all go dry leaving the town struggling with water crisis.
There are some hand pumps alongside the canals from which a large number of people get the drinking water.
“We are holding a protest rally on October 27 which will be joined by a large number of people and almost all political parties. After that, we shall chalk out our next programme,” said Sandeep.
The Morcha is determined that it will not allow the canals to be relined on the area specified by it.