Residents of 45 border villages hold panchayat over river embankment issue

YAMUNANAGAR: Farmers of 45 villages of Yamunanagar district, situated close to the Haryana-Uttar Pradesh border, held a panchayat in Jatlana village on Wednesday over the issue of embankment being raised along Yamuna river in Saharanpur district of UP. Alleging that the district administration had not helped them in the matter, the farmers decided during the panchayat to approach the Supreme Court to get relief in the matter.
UP villagers are building the embankment claiming that water from the river inundates their fields and houses during rainy season. On the other hand, Yamunanagar farmers claim the wall along the river would obstruct its natural flow that would create havoc in their villages.
"We have lost faith in the Yamunanagar administration. We can't trust the claims of Saharanpur authorities either as work to raise the embankment continues while it is a violation of the stay by Central Water Commission," said Shiv Kumar Sandhal, who presided over the panchayat.
Meanwhile, Nepal Rana, son of Radaur MLA Shayam Singh, also rushed to the meeting and urged the farmers to present their case before the Haryana government. Yamunanagar deputy commissioner was not available for his comments on the farmers' panchayat over the embankment issue.