Ottu Lake Excavation Awareness March

Ottu Lake Excavation Awareness

March 02~06 October 2006

SIRSA (Sirsa News) Ellenabd-JeevanNagar-Rania-Ottu Area

[All Photos can be clicked to view-enlarged version]

A Public awareness march titled ‘Ottu Jheel Nirman Jagritee Yatra” for need of excavation of Ottu Lake was conducted in Ellenabad-Jeevan Nagar Rania Area. The Yatra Started on 2nd October on Gandhi Jayanti Day from Gandhi Chowk Ellenabad and concluded on 6th October with a conference at the Ch. Devi Lal Ottu Weir.

The Yatra was spearheaded by Advocate Jarnail Brar, Mr Sukhdev Bhadu, Mr Brahmanand Sharma and other members of Ottu Jheel Nirman Sangrash Samiti, along with active support and participation of LOKPANCHAYAT a prominent NGO of the region, Mr. Jaswant Singh Josh, Bali Singh Budhimari, Sardul Singh Kotli, Swarn Singh Wirk, Gurdial Singh Wirk etc toured more than 50 villages from 2nd October to 6th October and conducted awareness lectures at every village. The Yatra was welcomed at all the villages as villagers are now aware of depleting ground water levels and the need of water conservation. On the concluding day on 6th October speaking at the right bank downstream of Ottu Weir, Mr. Jarnail Brar said that without people’s participation it was not possible to get this urgent demand fulfilled. S. Malkiat Singh Khosa Advocate said that it was not possible to make a real good lake that is useful for water storage with limited budget and work force like (he was referring to one that can be diverted from Rozgaar Guarantee Yojna Etc.) With such little resources only a small pond could be created and not a big storage water body that is the Ottu lake. He said “We should get disillusioned and we all should unite and strike in a big way to impress upon the Govt to take this project seriously so that a viable and useful lake is constructed.”
Before that Mr. Bhadu had said that if we tap the Rozagar Guarantee Yojna than with that work force only we can excavate the lake in no time.
Mr Swarn Singh Wirk in his address said that cutting across the party lines every one should put up strength behind this demand so that Govt may be impressed upon and forcedto yield to this genuine demand that shall not help farmers and environment but shall also help save electricity. Mr Wirk said at the time of inauguration of Ottu Weir by the then CM Mr. OP Chautala, delegation of Lokpancahyat had urged upon the then CM that its necessary to make a lake on the up stream of Ottu Weir to tap the full potential of Ghagger River and the New Ottu Weir, as ottu weir alone can only regulate the flow of Ghaggar waters and cannot hold the same to elongate the irrigation benefits. Talking to Sirsa News, Mr. Wirk said that we should tap the Rozagar Guarantee Yojna as well as get a large project for making of the lake cleared form the Govt. The Rozgar Guarantee Yojna shall come in handy once the lake is constructed for its de-silting and maintenance etc.
Mr Gurdial Singh Wirk, Mr. Sardul Singh Kotli, Mr. Ramji Lal Saharan, Mr. Singh of Modia Khera, Mr. Bali Singh Budhi Mari, Mr Jaswant Singh Josh President LOKPANCHAYAT, Mr. @#*! Bhadu, Mr Brhamanand Sahrma President, Sarpanch Asso. Ellenabad, Mr Sukhdev Bhadu, etc also detailed the usefulness of the lake.

Before this..........More details soon..............

Above pictures are of the Ottu Lake Nirman Jagriti Yatra as it passes through Village ShekhuKhera, Kirpal Patti & Mouju Khera