Farmers, leaders of all parties block road at Sarati demanding water in Nira river

Farmers and leaders of all parties from Indapur and Malshiras talukas took to the road at Sarati and held a rasta roko agitation, demanding the immediate release of water into the Nira riverbed.

Slogans such as "The water is our right, it belongs to no one's father" rang out so loudly that the whole area echoed. Leaders of all parties stood together, setting political differences aside for the farmers' rightful water, which has added to the significance of the agitation.

The Nira riverbed has dried up. As a result, crops in Indapur and Malshiras talukas are in danger for want of water. There is also a fear that the question of drinking water will turn serious along with irrigation. Farmers are struggling to save their crops, and the absence of water in the river is adding to their worry. In these circumstances, a large number of farmers came out on the road at Sarati to draw the administration's attention and to demand the immediate release of their rightful water into the Nira.

Former Deputy Chief Minister of the state Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil, former minister Harshvardhan Patil, MP Dhairyasheel Mohite-Patil and former MLA Ranjitsinh Mohite-Patil took part in the agitation in person and backed the farmers' demand. Also present were Appasaheb Jagdale, Bharat Shah, Pradip Garatkar, Shrimant Dhole and Hanumant Kokate, along with prominent leaders, office-bearers and workers of various parties from Indapur and Malshiras talukas, and hundreds of farmers.

The most notable feature of the agitation was that leaders of all parties came onto one platform on the water issue. Setting aside party, faction and differences, they together gave the administration a clear message.

The protesters said plainly that farmers must get their rightful water and that water must be released into the riverbed immediately. The leaders present also warned that the administration should take immediate note of the demand and take the right decision, or a sharper agitation would follow.

The question of Nira water is no longer limited to irrigation. It has become a question of the survival of thousands of farming families and of their need for drinking water. Farmers of Indapur and Malshiras talukas are now watching whether the voice of the Sarati agitation reaches the administration, and when water will actually be released into the Nira riverbed.