In a bid to ensure equitable water distribution for farmers, Yamunanagar authorities have launched a massive crackdown on “water mafias” siphoning resources from the Western Yamuna Canal. The raid targeted specific stretches of the canal where illegal extractions were reportedly rampant.
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The Discovery: Acting on a tip-off from farmers in downstream districts who were facing water shortages, an irrigation team led by the Executive Engineer patrolled the canal banks. They uncovered a sophisticated network of 15 PVC and iron pipes hidden under bushes and soil, directly connected to the main canal.
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The Modus Operandi: Farmers were using diesel engines and electric motors to lift water from the WYC, bypassing the official outlets (mogas). This illegal extraction significantly reduces the water pressure, leaving farmers at the “tail-end” of the canal system without enough water for their crops.
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Seizure and Action: All 15 pipes and several motor assemblies were confiscated on the spot. “Water theft is a criminal offense. These illegal connections disrupt the entire irrigation schedule of the state,” an official stated. The department has recommended “Red Entries” in the land records of the offending farmers, which could bar them from receiving government subsidies.
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Police Coordination: Because irrigation officials have faced physical resistance in the past, a police contingent accompanied the team during today’s operation. The names of the landholders whose fields were being irrigated by these pipes have been forwarded to the local police station for the registration of cases under the Haryana Canal and Drainage Act.
