(India news) In response to reports that the Central Government is considering imposing a tax on groundwater used by farmers for agriculture, Raju Shetti, founder of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana and former MP, has strongly criticized the move.
(India news) Shetti alleged that the Centre is attempting to impose an unjust tax on farmers, similar to the ‘Jizya tax’ levied during the Sultanate era.
(India news) The proposal, reportedly from the Ministry of Jal Shakti (Water Resources), suggests taxing water drawn by farmers through wells and borewells for agricultural use across the country. Expressing outrage, Shetti said farmers have invested their own money to dig wells and borewells and to lay pipelines to make water available for farming. Neither the central nor state governments have made any contribution to these efforts, he claimed.
He further stated that, on the contrary, many industries have polluted rivers and groundwater sources nationwide, yet the Centre has never raised its voice against such pollution. Farmers, on the other hand, contribute positively to the environment by absorbing harmful gases through their agricultural practices and producing life-sustaining elements like oxygen. Therefore, Shetti said, farmers are the true earners of carbon credits.
Issuing a warning to the government, Shetti said if the aim is to curb water wastage, then the authorities should come directly to the farmers’ fields and be ready to account for both their water usage and environmental contributions. Otherwise, the government could face severe political backlash for its anti-farmer policies.
Following Shetti’s remarks, the atmosphere across the country could once again stir debates over farmers’ rights and raise serious questions about government policies.
