Matrikundiya Dam becomes a problem for farmers: Villages in the submerged area announce strike from October 15

Matrikundiyadam, built on the Banas River and once considered a symbol of development, has now become a headache for the farmers of the area. After reaching its filling capacity this year, the problem of leakage and waterlogging has become serious in the villages of the submergence area. Farmers from many villages including Dhulkheda, Javasia, Devpura, Gurjaniya, Gilund and Kundiya are now preparing to protest for an indefinite period. The farmers said that if they do not get compensation for their losses and their rightful water, they will start a protest at Matrikundiya dam from October 15. Underground leakage, devastation in fields A group meeting of representatives of the affected villages was held at the Panchmukhi Balaji temple in Gilund on Wednesday evening. Farmers said that as the water level of the dam increases, underground leaks begin to occur in the surrounding fields. Due to this leakage and continuous inundation of fields, Kharif crops have completely rotted and been ruined. So much moss has accumulated in many countries that the upcoming Rabi sowing season is in jeopardy. In some parts of the villages, water also entered the houses, causing moisture in the walls and damage to the houses. According to the villagers, the administration gives assurances every time, but no concrete steps are taken. Hundreds of hectares of land are flooded every year. Hundreds of acres of land in villages like Gilund, Kundiya, Khumakheda, Tilakheda and Kolupara are submerged every year due to excess water coming from the dam. Farmers say that many farms, even if they do not fall in the government’s flood zone, are flooded every year due to the dam being filled above the prescribed limit. Farmers claim that the dam’s water level is raised every year due to political pressure. This not only causes loss for agriculture, but also creates a serious fodder crisis for the livestock farmers. The dam was filled, but water did not reach the villages. In the meeting, the villagers raised another serious issue – discrimination in the water distribution system. The total storage capacity of Matrikundiya Dam is 1168 mcft. Of this, 50 mcft water is released for river recharge, and 170 mcft water is retained for irrigation and drinking water use in Railmagara and Gangapur talukas. But farmers say that this water never reaches the villages. Water is not released into the canals for the fields, nor are the dams filled. As a result, the villagers suffer loss due to leakage but they do not get any benefit. Our fields are in flood zones, and crops are destroyed, yet we receive neither compensation nor irrigation water. This is a double loss. Share this story Tags