Open reservoir gates for Rabi crop: VC Shukla

     Raipur, January 17, 2009: Senior Congress leader V C Shukla today demanded immediate release of water from various reservoirs to save the Rabi crop of Chhattisgarh.

     Several tehsils have already been declared drought hit by the Chhattisgarh Government and due to scanty rainfall the Rabi crop was not getting sufficient waters from rivers, rivulets, ponds or pumps, in a statement Shukla said today.

     From Gangrel dam also water was not yet been released to the affected farmers resulting in develop of cracks in the paddy fields, he said.

     The farmers have been living in a crisis as the crop was almost dried up, the former Union Minister said adding if water was not released immediate then the Rabi crop would be damaged like the Khariff one.

     Hence the state government should not wait for the farmers to become impatient and release water from the reservoirs where ever possible, he said.

     The senior Congress leader also demanded starting of relief works in those places, which have been declared drought hit by the state government.