In a bid to curb the theft of irrigation water that flows through the Indira Gandhi canal, the Rajasthan government will be opening a unique police station. This police station will be established in the Hanumangarh district and a staff of 60 uniformed men will be deputed. These policemen will be responsible for taking appropriate and timely action against water theft cases reported. This police station is expected to prevent the rampantly rising number of complaints in this area.
Police station to be headed by Circle Inspector
In the last 4 years, 74 cases of water theft have been registered in the Hanumangarh district alone and among these, 28 have been reported at the Bhirani Police Station. It has been stated in these reports that affluent farmers insert long pipes into the canal to surreptitiously channel the water to their fields, thereby leaving other farmers at a disadvantage.
To ensure that a government-provided facility is used for the benefit of all, equally, a police station shall come up in Hanumangarh. This police station will be headed by a CI and have a staff that includes 5 sub-inspectors, 8 head constables and 40 constables. As per officials, this is the first time in any state that a police station is being established to prevent water theft.
As per reports, Hanumangarh’s Additional Superintendent of Police stated that theft incidents are higher in areas that have no chakbandi. He adds further, “A few people from Haryana steal water leading to water crisis in the tail areas here. People caught stealing water are registered under IPC section 397.”
A total of 12 new police stations have been sanctioned in the state and this unique police station is one among them. However, it has been noted that if the cases of theft don’t decrease, then more such police stations will come up in future, as the Canal Department also wants strict vigilance on this matter.
About Indira Gandhi Canal
Almost 650 km long, Indira Gandhi Canal starts from Harike Barrage in Punjab and terminates at Rajasthan’s Thar Desert as it provides irrigation facility for farmers. It passes through seven districts in Rajasthan which includes- Barmer, Bikaner, Churu, Hanumangarh, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Sriganganagar.
-With inputs from IANS
