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Two die after clash over water

M I Khan in Bhubaneswar

In the first ever incident of its kind, a dispute over sharing of irrigation waters led to the death of two persons in the drought-hit Bolangir district of western Orissa. The incident occurred on October 10 in Suleikela village.

Bolangir district is in the midst of a severe drought this year, the worst ever in recent years.

Narayan Naik, in-charge of Belpada police station, who is investigating the case said that a dispute broke out between farmers over sharing of irrigation waters. "Two persons died on the spot when the dispute took a violent turn," he told rediff.com.

According to police sources, the deceased Kashmakar and his son-in-law Udhab had diverted water from another farmer's field to their own. "The owner of the affected land and the deceased had a heated exchange of words over the issue," police sources said.

Later on, the landlord and his supporters attacked Kashmakar and Udhab with shovels. Both died on the spot.

President of the Sahbhagi Vikas Abhiyan Jagdish Pradhan said that the serious scarcity of water has led to clashes among farmers in several places in recent days.

Pradhan told rediff.com over telephone from Kalahandi that people are not stealing gold ornaments or money or robbing banks, but they have taken to stealing water to save their dying crops leading to violent clashes in some cases.

Reports of violent clashes for water have also been received from Kumna block of Naupada district, Bongamunda block of Bolangir district and Narla block of Kalahandi district.

At several places, farmers have begun guarding their fields at night. "Night patrolling by villagers has became common due to the fear that neighbouring farmers will steal their water," Pradhan said.

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