Raghbir Singh Brar
Faridkot
It was the interving night of June 6, 2025,when water in Rajbaha Faridkot flowed a bit lower than normal.But soon after,as the day progressed, the flow of the Rajbaha was diverted into the Deviwala branch of Langhewala drain.
About some twenty years back, a gate was constructed to stop complete flow of the water into Rajbaha Faridkot at Deviwala and Sirsari village boundaries incase of any emergency.
Earlier, since the water as released into the Rajbaha Faridkot, it could not at all stopped mid way and it was equally reached all parts of land it irrigated.
The Rajbaha orininates from Abohar branch of Sirhind canal near village Smalsar and the Rajbaha was reportedly irrigating the land upto village Chirewan of Muktsar dsitrict.
When the Rajbaha was constructed from Kuccha to Pucca in about 70s, the surveyers had constructed many Jahalls(small blockades or barages) in the water dsitributory so that water does not run straight forwards to to the low lying areas.
But after it was reconstructed some 15 years back, no mid way barriers at intervals have been construcred.
It results that when the water distributory Faridkot runs at about 50 per cent capacity, all canal water runs towards the tail end villages leaving the upper side area dry.
When the Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann had himself announed that the farmers would be supplied canal water from June 1, Rajbaha Faridkot got water only on June 6. The farmers mercilessly drained out sub soil water by pump sets. But as soon as the water was released in Rajbaha Faridkot, nearly 50 percent supply was choked from going ahead by opening the flood gates towards Dewi Wala link drain.It left thounds of the farmers who get canal water supply at lurch.
The canal water upto this facility cover only a handful of villages while dozens of the villages come after this facility.
The farmers also allege that the flood or emergency gates on the Rajbaha Faridkot are being misused.
“When there is acute shortage of canal water, water from Rajbaha is released into the drain which runs into the main drain called Langhewala drain. This drain runs through many villages and the farmers have installed pumpsets on the drain to pump out this water to irrigate their fields. No political interference or corruption can not be ruled out by the canal department employs to facilitate these villages on the drain,” the farmers said.
When this correspondent took the pictures of the spot, still both the gates, leading canal water flow to the Rajbaha and Devi Wala drain were wide open because of which the Rajbaha was getting lottle water.
It is pertinent to mention that the gate to the drain is opended as per the whims of the cacal departmetn employes leaving thousands of the farmers dry.
Tye weekly turn of water,if goes dry once, is avbailable after the 15 days.
The gutsy winds has thrown many braches of the tres into the Rajbaha which would choke the flow of watter, but no canal department officals cared to remove those before the water was released. Only one employee of the departmetn was seen along wiht the locals at the site of gates removing some choking elements today.
Thye farmers have demanded that no water be released into the drain of Rajbaha Faridkot at any cost when the paddy season is on. There must be some reson when it is released.
