Gadchiroli April 5 (District Correspondent) The Congress party workers staged a unique ‘Thiyya Andolan’ this afternoon in the bed of River Wainganga on Chandrapur road to press the demand of early releasing of irrigation water from Gose Khurd Project and other demands.
Congress Legislative leader Vijay Wadettiwar, Gadchiroli Chimur Lok Sabha MP Dr. Namdeo Kirsan, Armori MLA Ramdas Masram and District Congress President Mahendra Bramhanwade led this agitation.
A large number of Congress workers from different parts of the district assembled under the bridge of River Wainganga and shouted slogans in support of their demands.
Due to the retention of water in the Gosekhurd dam, the water level in the riverbed flowing in Gadchiroli district has decreased, making it difficult for farmers to irrigate their land. Since the groundwater level in the villages on the river banks has decreased, many villagers have been facing drinking water problems also. Hence, water from the Gosekhurd dam should be released immediately, it was demanded.
The other demands of the protest included instead of acquiring fertile land for the Gadchiroli airport, other government or forest land should be used for it, additional land should not be acquired for MIDC in Bhendala without discussing with the farmers, appropriate compensation should be given immediately Kotgal Barrage affected farmers, outstanding wages of the labourers working under MGNREGA should be paid immediately, all the farmers whose land is acquired for the Wadsa Gadchiroli new broad gauge railway line should be given compensation as per the new rate etc.
Speaking on the occasion Mr. Wadettiwar alleged that the state government and its officers are negligent towards the burning issue of irrigation. Despite several requests, they have not paid any attention towards the issue. If the water of Gosekhurd is not released soon, the agitation will be intensified, he warned.
Prominently present on the occasion were Adv. Vishwajeet kowase, General Secretary of Maharashtra youth Congress, Pankaj Guddewar, senior leader, Satish Vidhate, city chief, women congress Kavita Mohorkar, Prabhakarrao Wasekar, Rajnikant Motghare, Vasant Raut, Milind Khobragade, Ramesh Chaudhari and other Congress workers. The farmers also had participated in this agitation.
A memorandum addressed to the chief minister was submitted to the Naib Tehsildar from the District Collector’s office Wanishyam Yerme who visited the spot of agitation.
