Protesting Jats turn off the taps to Delhi

According to the police,the protesters first gathered at Hans Inter College in Murad Nagar for the Jat Mahasammelan organised under the aegis of Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti demanding reservation in jobs in the Central government services. They then marched towards the Upper Ganga Canal at Murad Nagar Water Works and closed the shutter valves of the barrage and stopped the flow of water at about 4 pm.

“The government has been unjust to the Jats. When reservation was given to Gurjjars,why not Jats? We have been raising our demands peacefully till now,only to fall on deaf ears. There was no other option left but to resort to this measure,” said Samiti president Yash Pal Singh Malik.

A strong police force has been deployed in the area,and all senior police officials,together with District Magistrate R Ramesh Kumar,were at the spot till late in the evening,trying to pacify the protesters.

“We are trying our best to resolve the situation through dialogue. We have told them that their demands have been communicated to the right channel. But if the community does not listen,we will have no option but to use force,” Superintendent of Police (Rural) Capt M M Baig told Newsline.

Delhi Jal Board officials have also gone to the spot to resolve the deadlock. The closure of the Upper Ganga Canal would mean no water supply in South and East Delhi on Monday morning,and till the issue is resolved. Even after the canal is opened,it would take at least six hours for the water to reach Delhi and another three hours for the plants to supply the water within the city.

Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta said he has spoken to his counterpart in UP. “DJB officials are already there. While we would get to the real dynamics of the situation on Monday morning,we are hopeful the issue will also get sorted out by then,” Mehta said.

Meanwhile,the DJB has sounded an alert and advised residents to be cautious with the use of water till the issue is resolved. “We will have to ration supply to West and North Delhi areas on Monday so that some water is supplied to the areas affected by the shutting down of Sonia Vihar and Bhagirathi plants. While we can’t say much in the absence of water,Monday’s supply would certainly be affected,” a senior DJB official said.