Bhopal, Oct 5 — Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari on Monday alleged that the state government was preparing to prevent farmers from entering Bhopal by deploying barricades and other security measures at 16 major entry and exit points instead of addressing their concerns.
Patwari claimed that the government had studied arrangements used during the farmers’ agitation in Delhi and was preparing to deploy concrete blocks, containers, barbed wire, temporary barricades and containment zones at key points in the state capital.
He said farmers were facing problems due to deficient rainfall, inadequate irrigation, power shortages and the lack of remunerative prices for their produce.
“Instead of putting up barricades at 16 entry points, the government should establish 16 divisional-level farmer solution centres,” Patwari said.
He added that when farmers come to the capital with their problems, the government should listen to them rather than prepare a strategy to stop them.
The Congress leader said the state received 908.4 mm of rainfall between June 1 and September 30 against the normal 949.5 mm.
Western Madhya Pradesh recorded around 11 per cent less rainfall than normal, while the Indore division received 639.70 mm against its normal average of 952.20 mm, a deficit of nearly 33 per cent.
He said the rainfall deficit had affected crops and that the Agriculture Department was preparing a contingency plan.
Patwari also raised concerns over irrigation infrastructure, claiming that the nearly 40-year-old unlined canals of the Sanjay Sarovar Project were damaged.
He said the deadline for supplying water to the tail-end areas of the Pench Diversion Project was November 2027.
“Farmers need water today, but the government is giving them a date in 2027. This is the height of insensitivity towards farmers,” he said.
Patwari also demanded special crop-loss surveys in 30 districts and compensation for affected farmers.
He sought effective implementation of the Minimum Support Price (MSP), a publicly announced schedule for releasing water for rabi crops, and replacement of damaged transformers within 48 hours.
He further demanded 10 to 12 hours of three-phase electricity for agricultural feeders and withdrawal of the proposed barricading and containment plan.
Patwari said the Congress would stand with farmers and raise their issues “from the streets to the Assembly” if the government tried to prevent their democratic protests.