BJP, CPM stage walkout in Rajasthan assembly over water shortage

The BJP and the CPI(M) today staged a walkout in the Rajasthan assembly accusing the Ashok Gehlot government of not  providing adequate water to farmers for irrigation purposes in Sriganganagar and Hadauti districts.

After a 20-minute debate, members of the two parties walked out of the House saying they were dissatisfied with the reply of water resource minister Mahipal Maderna on the issue.

BJP deputy leader GS Tiwari and CPI (M) member Amra Ram said the state government was committing a "criminal act" by not providing water to farmers despite frequent agitations.

In his reply, the minister said the chief minister had already asked the Punjab government to release the state's share of 72,248 cusec of water from the Ranjit Sagar Dam.

Rajasthan was facing scarcity of water due to low inflow into dams and non-release of the share apportioned by the Bhakhra Beas Management Board (BBMB) on September 20 last year, the minister said.

Yesterday, the BJP MLAs staged a brief sit-in in the well of the House demanding irrigation water for crops and drinking water in affected areas.