Panchna Dam row: Internet suspended in Karauli, parts of Sawai Madhopur amid tensions
Jaipur, July 9 (IANS) The Rajasthan administration has stepped up security measures amid the Panchna Dam water-release dispute, suspending internet services in Karauli district and parts of Sawai Madhopur to curb the spread of rumours and maintain law and order.
Mobile internet services have been suspended in Gangapur City, Wazirpur and Bamanwas following the circulation of inflammatory and objectionable social media posts related to the issue.
Police have registered cases against multiple individuals accused of sharing provocative content, while additional action has been initiated at the Karauli Sadar Police Station against those allegedly attempting to incite hostility. Meanwhile, normal traffic resumed on Thursday morning along the Gangapur City-Hindaun, Karauli-Gangapur City, Karauli-Dholpur, Karauli-Hindaun, and Karauli-Mandarail routes after protesting farmers withdrew their blockade.
Farmers in Kusay village of Wazirpur had blocked the Hindaun-Gangapur highway for three days, alleging inadequate water supply through irrigation canals. Late Wednesday night, Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena visited the protest site and assured farmers that technical faults in the canal system would be rectified and adequate water would be released within 10 days. Following the assurance, the farmers called off their agitation, allowing traffic to resume.
The Karauli Police appealed to residents not to circulate or believe misleading information, stating that the Panchna Dam dispute had already been resolved through mutual consent.
“Despite the issue being settled amicably, some anti-social elements are attempting to disturb communal harmony by spreading misleading, provocative, objectionable and false information through social media and other platforms,” the police said in a public appeal.
On Wednesday, a high-level review meeting was held at the Gangapur City Mini Secretariat, chaired by Rajasthan Water Resources Minister Suresh Rawat and Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena.
The meeting was attended by Rural Development Secretary Krishna Kunal, ADG Biju George Joseph, Divisional Commissioner Nalini Kathotia, IG Kailash Chand Bishnoi, District Collector Kana Ram, SP Jyeshtha Maitreyi, along with administrative and police officials from both districts and representatives of farmers.
Officials reviewed the law and order situation, traffic disruptions, canal water distribution and technical issues related to the dam.
The meeting concluded that repairs to the Panchna Dam gates and associated structures would be completed within the next seven days. The gates will be retested on July 17 and 18 in the presence of farmer representatives, when water will be released into the canal network to inspect the functioning of the entire irrigation system.
–IANS
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