Orissa farmers now facing water struggle

In Orissa, it's not just their land that farmers are reluctant to part with, their struggle is also over sharing water with industries, reports CNBC-TV18's Jajati Karan and Shailesh Rai.

On Sunday, the opposition Congress in Orissa led a massive rally of farmers in Sambalpur. The farmers were lathi-charged by the police last month while protesting Chief Minister Naveen Patnaiks' industrialisation policy. While many farmers lose their land to industries, they are having to face a new problem, and the opposition in the sate is milking the farmer's resentment to corner the ruling BJD-BJP government.

Ajay Maken, Minister Of State, Urban Development said, “The farmers are already facing a scarcity of water for their farming. If 0.6 million acres feet of water is given to the industries then the farmers will not survive."

Sensing trouble, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has for the time being, put the decision of providing water to industries on hold. “I assure that not a single drop of water meant for agriculture will be given to industries or for any other purpose," Patnaik said.

The issue also rocked the Sate Assembly. The Congress moved a motion in the house on alleged atrocities against farmers and diversion of water meant for irrigation from the Hirakud Dam to the mining industry. The motion though went undebated and the assembly was adjourned sine die on the last day of November.

The Orissa government has signed an MoU with 59 industries promising to supply them 35.41 cusecs of water from the Mahanadi river system. Out of these, 17 companies will draw water from Hirakud Dam alone. One of the major projects which would require water from Mahanadi is the South Korean steel company - Posco at Jagatsinghpur, which was also witness to a spate of violent clashes between pro and anti-Posco supporters.