Gujarat Congress accuses state of being anti-farmer over Water Bill

The Congress on Friday staged a walkout in the assembly over the Gujarat Irrigation and Drainage (Amendment) Bill. The Congress demanded the withdrawal of the same stating that the bill wanted to make water thieves out of Gujarat’s farmers. 

Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar reminded the government that the farmers would not have to steal water from canals if the state had ensured irrigation facilities for them. 

The bill proposes to up the punishment for water theft, damage to canals and even dumping of waste and allowing cattle into canal water.

“Earlier you called them electricity thieves. Now, you believe the farmers of this state are water thieves,” said Parmar. “There are 209 instances of canals developing cracks, yet not a single agency has been penalised. On the other hand, this government is quick to nab a desperate farmer trying to save his crops and put him in jail,” Parmar said. A host of Congress MLAs questioned why was it that industries that stole water from Narmada never got punished while the state was keen to put poor farmers in jail.

The Congress then demanded the withdrawal of the bill and staged a walkout. The BJP passed the bill in the absence of the Opposition.

Energy minister Saurabh Patel reminded the Opposition that the bill was first brought by the Congress government in 1982. “The rules already existed. What we brought in 2013 and what we are bringing now are amendments that will enhance the punishment,” Patel said. He said the focus was also to ensure that the canals were not damaged.