Demands for repeal of the Dam Safety Act
CHANDIGARH: The Samyukta Kisan Morcha has termed the Union Government's move to hand over the security of Bhakra Dam to CISF as authoritarian step that undermines the constitutional federal structure and further strengthens the trend of centralization of powers.
Condemning this move, the SKM has termed the unilateral administrative decisions taken by the Bhakra Beas Management Board for the past several days as biased decisions under the direct influence of the BJP led Union Government.
Holding the Dam Safety Act as directly responsible for this action, the SKM has demanded repeal of the Dam Safety Act, which goes against the constitutional rights of the States.
History has shown that the river water dispute between Punjab and its neighbouring States has always been politicized instead of resolving in a non-discriminatory, rational and people-friendly manner in the light of riparian/scientific principles.
The current water dispute between Punjab and Haryana by the Bhakra Beas Management Board is also motivated by the hidden political interests of the BJP led Union Giovernment.
The water crisis in northwest India is becoming serious day by day due to the falling level of groundwater and water pollution. To resolve this crisis, the Union as well as the State governments need to work by formulating a multi-layered action policy.
SKM has demanded to address the water crisis issue fundamentally, conserve and properly utilize the rain water being wasted, scientific management of rivers and canals, effective controll with insurance coverage of damages and destruction due to flood water and climatic changes and resolve the water distribution disputes in a rational, non-discriminatory and people-friendly manner in the light of riparian/scientific principles.
SKM also stressed on formulating a policy of watershed development, water harvesting to recharge the declining groundwater level. SKM reiterates the need to encourage agricultural research and cultivation of sustainable, environment-friendly and diverse crops with adequate, scientific use of water, fertilisers and insecticides and enact a law to guarantee crop procurement under the Swaminathan formula while not compromising on the food security of the people.
SKM has reiterated its commitment to pressure the Union and State Governments to resolve the water crisis without any discrimination or bias, appealing to the people to be wary of political tactics of ruling class parties, especially the BJP, to pit the people of the neighbouring States, especially the farmers, against each other.