Congress MLA from Sardulgarh Ajit Inder Singh Mofar had raised the issue in the Assembly session on Thursday. “For the past two years, Bhunder has been forcibly drawing water from the distributary in violation of the preference orders. Several villages are not getting drinking water just because the MP diverts water to fulfil his needs at the cost of farmers’ rights,” Mofar alleged. “Action should also be taken against the officials flouting the rules.”

Under the rotation rules, water is released in villages for seven days and the supply is suspended for the next 15 days. However, water is being released every Saturday, Sunday and Monday into Ranga minor during the 15-day curtailment period. To ensure an uninterrupted supply, a course has been laid from Ranga minor to Kahnewal village, where Bhunder has agricultural land.

While Bhundar can also draw water from Minor No. 11, which falls under the Boha branch, its carrying capacity is low due to technical reasons. Bhundar says: “Only four villages of Haryana are getting water, while two Punjab villages are also receiving it. My opponents are trying to make a big issue out of it.”

“If Mofar says, I will stop drawing water, but it will badly affect a number of villages in Sardulgarh. Ranga minor can carry only 50 cusecs.”

The release of water into Ranga minor results in shortage of water in other distributaries such as Fattah minor, Fatehpur minor, Jatana minor, Ullak minor, and Dhudal branch. Executive Engineer (Irrigation) DS Dhaliwal says: “There is no political pressure on us. Water is being released for seven days as per the needs of farmers. The supply is suspended for the next 15 days under the rotation norms.” On the release of water into Ranga minor during 15 days of curtailment period, he said: “It is done to meet the needs of the farmers who face shortage.”