Protests Erupt in Assam Over Water Crisis Amid Dry Spell

Widespread Protests Against Irrigation Departments

Guwahati, July 19: In response to the ongoing drought affecting Assam, significant protests have emerged throughout the state targeting the Irrigation and Water Resources Departments.

The All Assam Students' Union (AASU), alongside various regional student organizations, has criticized these departments for their failure to provide sufficient irrigation support to farmers, putting the current cultivation season at risk.

Demonstrations have been reported in several districts, including Kamrup (Metro), Bijni, Nalbari, and Biswanath Chariali.

Protesters have specifically directed their ire towards the Irrigation Department, led by Minister Ashok Singhal, accusing him of mismanagement, corruption, and a lack of practical agricultural knowledge.

In Guwahati, members of the Kamrup Metropolitan District Students' Union protested outside the Chief Executive Engineer's office of the Irrigation Department at Chandmari, chanting slogans and displaying placards demanding immediate irrigation assistance.

“This department has failed under a minister who lacks understanding of agriculture and shows no interest in resolving farmers’ issues. Minister Ashok Singhal is unaware of crop cycles or their requirements. His ignorance and the department's corruption have left our fields barren. If they do not act soon, we will escalate our protests,” stated one protester.

Bijni: Rally Demands Water Supply

A similar demonstration took place in Bijni, organized by the Bijni Regional Students' Association outside the Irrigation Division office. Protesters accused the department of neglecting water supply despite weeks of dry conditions, resulting in parched and cracked farmlands.

“The schemes exist only on paper. There is no water or implementation. In Chirang and surrounding areas, even drinking water is scarce. The government claims to have policies, but farmers are left helpless,” remarked Biswajit Rai, President of Bijni Regional AASU.

Sudip Chand, Central Organising Secretary of AASU, emphasized, “This issue transcends irrigation; it’s about survival. The land is cracking, and there’s no water for drinking or farming. We demand immediate government action.”

A memorandum outlining four critical demands was submitted to the Chief Minister, calling for urgent relief and long-term irrigation reforms.

Nalbari: Escalating Tensions During Protest

In Nalbari, tensions rose during a student protest outside the Water Resources Department office. Over a hundred AASU members demonstrated, brandishing anti-government placards and chanting slogans against Minister Singhal.

A scuffle erupted when a department employee reportedly acted rudely towards the protesters, but the situation was defused after the employee, Kishor Chakraborty, apologized.

Local farmers expressed their frustration over dry fields and ineffective irrigation schemes. Many reported that shallow tube-wells and irrigation equipment are malfunctioning, leaving genuine farmers without government support.

“We are demanding operational shallow tube-wells for farmers. If no action is taken, farming in Nalbari will face collapse this season,” warned a student leader.

Biswanath Chariali: Protest Near Clock Tower

In Biswanath Chariali, AASU leaders and students gathered for a protest near the clock tower, where they submitted a memorandum to the executive officer requesting urgent water supply for farmers.

These protests highlight a growing public dissatisfaction with the perceived ineffectiveness of government initiatives and the lack of preparedness to address climate-related challenges in agriculture.

As Assam continues to endure a prolonged dry spell, these demonstrations indicate a looming agricultural crisis across the state.