Amid ongoing tensions of India with Nepal, China and Pakistan, the farmers from 25 villages in Assam, chiefly from adjoining areas near Bhutan border have left their fields to protest on road and blockaded Rongia-Bhutan connecting road for several hours.
The farmers are protesting against the Bhutan government’s decision to prohibit farmers from the Indian side to channelize water from the other side for irrigation purposes.
The India Today reported that the paddy farmers of the areas in vicinity to Bhutan in Assam, India are dependent on the Kalandi river as they operate on a rain-fed irrigation model.
Pertinently India is currently undergoing a bitter phase of relations with China, Pakistan and Nepal.
Over 1953 fields operate in similar with 26 villages who resort to similar farming practises. It is estimated that about 5,000 farmers are dependent on the river.
The Bhutanese government has closed all entries of outsiders to the country and said that Indian farmers will not be allowed to use irrigation channels originating from Bhutan, mentioning covid 19 as the reason.
The farmers demanded the Assam government to take the issue seriously and resolve it soon.
Earlier, Nepal had claimed land in Bihar, and erected barriers to stop Indian repair work of river embankments on the India-Nepal border.