Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 23: Jammu based Opposition MLAs today triggered massive uproar in the Legislative Assembly for 17 minutes before staging a walk-out over the Government’s failure to carry out de-silting work in the canals leading to delay in releasing of water and causing enormous inconvenience to the people.
While PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Sham Lal Sharma passed the buck on Planning Minister Ajay Sadhotra for not keeping any provision of funds for de-silting of canals, Mr Sadhotra despite massive protests by all MLAs of BJP, NPP and JSM gave no categorical assurance on release of funds but only said he would examine the issue.
In the absence of any assurance from the Government, the MLAs of BJP, NPP and JSM staged a noisy walk-out in the Assembly shouting slogans charging the Government with being ‘anti-farmers’.
As soon as the Assembly proceedings began for the day, BJP MLAs from Marh and Domana Choudhary Sukhnandan and Bharat Bushan respectively and JSM MLA from Bishnah Ashwani Sharma were on their feet saying the irrigation by the farmers has been badly affected due to delay in release of water in the canals as de-silting work this year hasn’t even started but to say of completion.
“The farmers are worried. What would happen to their crops? There is no water in the canals. The situation is very serious but the Government is unmoved,’’ shouted Sukhnandan and Ashwani as they trooped into the middle of the House and were joined by other MLAs of the BJP and NPP soon, who stood on their seats in support of their demand.
BJP state president Jugal Kishore said the canals were closed. “No water has been released in the canals. The Government is not doing anything’’.
Speaker Mubarak Gul while advising the agitated Opposition members to resume their seats said Kashmir was also facing the similar problem. The Government has to give irrigation facilities to the farmers, he said.
Intervening, Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Sham Lal Sharma said there has been no provision of funds for de-silting of canals with his Ministry as funds for the purpose had to be released by the Planning Department.
“We already have the liability of Rs 10 crores for the past three years on account of de-silting of canals. There was no provision of funds for this within the Ministry. For the past three years, we have received no money and the contractors were not ready to work. Even if the Planning Department released Rs 5 crores for the canals, the contracts would take up the works and our purpose would be served,’’ Sham said.
However, as there was no response from the Planning Minister initially, some of the BJP members including Sukhnandan, Bharat Bhushan., Gharu Ram and Durga Dass and JSM MLA Ashwani Sharma trooped into middle of the House shouting slogans ‘Kissan Virodhi Sarkaar Hai Hai’ and ‘Nehron Mein Pani Release Karo, Release Karo’.
Mr Gul repeatedly advised the agitated members to take their seats and allow the Question Hour to run smoothly. He said there were three Ministers (Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, PHE Minister Sham Lal Sharma and Planning Minister Ajay Sadhotra), whose constituencies were dependent on canals and they would work out a solution to the problems of the farmers.
“Funds will be released. Farmers will get water,’’ Mr Gul assured the members advising them to take their seats and don’t compel him to take action against them. However, the most agitated MLAs—Ashwani Sharma and Sukhnandan continued to shout near the middle of the House with latter even thumping the bench of the Assembly reporters prompting the Speaker to issue him a warning.
“I warn Sukhnandan,’’ he said.
Intervening, Mr Sadhotra said the PHE Minister (Sham Lal Sharma) has discussed the matter with him. “I would examine the issue and do whatever possible,’’ he assured.
However, the brief statement by Mr Sadhotra failed to pacify the agitated MLAs, who were again in the front row and then staged walkout in the Assembly shouting slogans like ‘Kissan Virodhi Sarkar Hai Hai’ and ‘Kissanon Ko Paani Do, Paani Do’.
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