Chandigarh, December 6- Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Mr. Jai Prakash Dalal said that five rounds of talks have been held between the Central Government and the farmers. He said that it is expected that the Government will find a way out in the interest of the farmers. There has been a point-wise discussion between the two sides and some issues were considered positively.
The Agriculture Minister was addressing a press conference in Gurugram today. In this conference, he explained in detail about the decisions implemented by the Central and State Government in the interest of farmers.
Mr. Dalal has urged all people and organizations who have been supporting the farmers agitation directly or indirectly to raise their demand for SYL construction in Haryana as water for irrigation is the major issue for the farmers in Haryana, besides all other issues.
He said that issues are being politicised in the name of farmers but “we are the sons of farmers and will continue to take decisions in interests of farmers as and when required”. He said that whenever the issue of farmers crop up, it gets favour from every nook and corner because everyone is emotionally attached with farmers. Everyone supports the farmers. “Even I say that I am a farmer first, then a minister and I am always with farmers. But for farmers of Haryana the major issue now is water for irrigation”, Mr Dalal asserted.
Mr. Dalal said that the situation of underground water in seven to eight districts of South Haryana is so grim that the watertable has gone down from 400 to 800 feet. In many areas there is no water and the underground water resources have dried up. Mr. Dalal said that in his assembly constituency Loharu, some villages are left with no drinking water, what to talk of water for irrigation. He said that when there will be no water, then how will the crops come up and if there is no crop, then the issue of rate will have no meaning. Therefore he is requesting all the people across party lines, who are participating in the farmers' agitation and all those who are supporting it, directly or indirectly, to include construction of SYL canal in their demand letter for the welfare of farmers of Haryana, so that when the leaders and officials of the Government of India and the farmers’ leaders sit face to face for negotiations, this issue is also discussed. The issue of water is important for the people of Haryana today. “We have won the case in the Supreme Court and now the SYL canal, the construction of which is pending for the last 40 years and which is considered lifeline of Haryana, should be completed,” said Mr. Dalal.
The Agriculture Minister said that the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal has taken numerous steps to save water and has given 85% to 100% subsidy according to level of watertable to those farmers who adopt drip irrigation system. Accusing the opposition parties of misleading the farmers, Agriculture Minister Mr Dalal said that our opponents propagate that the mandi system is being abolished, whereas in reality, a big mandi will be constructed at Ganaur in District Sonepat at a cost of Rs 5000 crore with the help of NABARD, another Apple Mandi is proposed to be set up in about 150 acres at Pinjore in district Panchkula and a big flower mandi would be developed in district Gurugram.
Mr. Dalal said that Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi is truly farmer friendly. The decisions he has taken in favor of the farmers were never taken earlier during the tenure of the governments of the opposition parties. He informed that Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) has been implemented in the interest of farmers, soil health cards have been distributed, prices of crops have been fixed before sowing crops and crops are being procured on MSP, he added.