Farmers construct a toilet at Tikri on Sunday. PHOTO: SUMIT THARAN

Ravinder Saini
Tribune News Service
Jhajjar, March 3

The rise in mercury has brought trouble for protesting farmers at the Tikri border. Scarcity of water, power cuts, and breeding of mosquitoes and flies due to insanitary conditions have made their life tough.

To tide over the problem, some farmers have installed submersible pumps, while the local administration has been supplying water daily. These efforts, however, are proving insufficient to meet the daily requirement in view of the approaching summers.

Perturbed, leaders of farmers’ organisations held a meeting at the Tikri today and decided to approach the district administration.

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Joginder Singh Nain said, “Farmers have been facing scarcity of water for the past fortnight. Hence, they installed submersible pumps, but the demand surpasses the

He claimed electricity supply to streetlights near the Jakhoda bypass was cut off every night.

Besides, unhygienic conditions prevail at the protest site. Disposable plates and water bottles are not lifted regularly, while the number of mobile toilets is fewer.

Krishan Kumar, Executive Engineer (Public Health), said: “More than 35 water tankers are sent to the Tikri border daily. We are ready to increase the supply if farmers demand so.