Panchna Dam Protest Ends After Ministerial Assurance, Bringing Relief to Administration and Farmers
The month-long protest at Panchna Dam in Karauli ended after District In-Charge Minister Jawahar Singh Bedham assured farmers of government talks and support. Senior administrative and police officials participated in negotiations that resolved the deadlock over opposition to canal outflow from the dam, bringing relief to all stakeholders.
The protest was called off after Minister Jawahar Singh Bedham assured demonstrators that the state government would hold talks with an 11-member delegation representing the farmers. He also pledged that the government would extend every possible support to address the concerns raised by the farming community. Acting on this assurance, Sangharsh Committee President Ashok Singh formally announced the withdrawal of the protest.
District Collector Akshay Godara appealed to the farmers to end the agitation, while Member of Legislative Assembly Darshan Singh Gurjar and Superintendent of Police Lokesh Sonwal were also present during the proceedings.
The conclusion of the protest at Panchna Dam allowed all stakeholders to breathe a sigh of relief. Senior police and administrative officials, who had remained on high alert due to the ongoing deadlock, were finally able to relax after the situation was resolved. Following the successful conclusion of the protest, senior officials planned to depart after dinner at a heritage hotel.
The Panchna dispute had prompted the arrival of top police and administrative officials in Karauli on the previous day. A three-hour round of discussions involving both sides was held in the Collectorate auditorium in an effort to break the impasse.
Among the senior officials who attended the talks were Senior IAS officer Krishna Kunal, Additional Director General of Police Biju George Joseph, Divisional Commissioner Nalini Kathotia, Inspector General of Police Kailash Chand Bishnoi, Sawai Madhopur Collector Kanaram, and Sawai Madhopur Superintendent of Police Jyeshtha Maitreyi. Karauli Collector Akshay Godara and Superintendent of Police Lokesh Sonwal were also present during the discussions.
A second round of talks had been scheduled for Thursday, and officials remained under considerable pressure as efforts continued to resolve the dispute. However, relief first emerged during the afternoon when a separate protest at Khandip ended. Later, at approximately 8:30 p.m., the Panchna Dam protest was officially withdrawn, generating a positive atmosphere among all parties involved.
The protest had been underway since May 15 in opposition to the proposed canal outflow from Panchna Dam. Its conclusion marks a significant breakthrough in a dispute that had drawn the attention of senior administrative and law enforcement authorities, highlighting the importance of continued dialogue between the government and affected farmers.

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