The Rajasthan administration suspended mobile internet services in Karauli district and parts of Sawai Madhopur on 9 July as tensions escalated over the Panchna Dam water-release dispute, with authorities citing the spread of inflammatory social media content as a threat to communal harmony and law and order.

Internet Shutdown and Police Action

Mobile internet was cut in Gangapur City, Wazirpur, and Bamanwas following the circulation of provocative and objectionable posts linked to the dam dispute. Police registered cases against multiple individuals accused of sharing incendiary content, and additional action was initiated at the Karauli Sadar Police Station against those allegedly attempting to stoke hostility.

The Karauli Police issued a public appeal urging residents not to share or believe misleading information. 'Despite the issue being settled amicably, some anti-social elements are attempting to disturb communal harmony by spreading misleading, provocative, objectionable and false information through social media and other platforms,' the police said.

Farmers End Three-Day Highway Blockade

Normal traffic resumed on Thursday morning on the Gangapur City-Hindaun, Karauli-Gangapur City, Karauli-Dholpur, Karauli-Hindaun, and Karauli-Mandarail routes after protesting farmers withdrew their blockade. Farmers in Kusay village of Wazirpur had blocked the Hindaun-Gangapur highway for three days, alleging inadequate water supply through irrigation canals.

Late Wednesday night, Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena visited the protest site and assured farmers that technical faults in the canal system would be rectified and adequate water released within 10 days. Following the assurance, the agitation was called off.

High-Level Review at Gangapur City

On Wednesday, a high-level review meeting was convened at the Gangapur City Mini Secretariat, chaired by Rajasthan Water Resources Minister Suresh Rawat and Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena. The meeting was attended by Rural Development Secretary Krishna Kunal, ADG Biju George Joseph, Divisional Commissioner Nalini Kathotia, IG Kailash Chand Bishnoi, District Collector Kana Ram, SP Jyeshtha Maitreyi, and administrative and police officials from both districts, along with farmer representatives.

Officials reviewed the law and order situation, traffic disruptions, canal water distribution, and technical issues related to the dam.

Dam Repairs and Next Steps

The meeting concluded that repairs to the Panchna Dam gates and associated structures would be completed within seven days. The gates are scheduled to be retested on 17 and 18 July in the presence of farmer representatives, when water will be released into the canal network to inspect the functioning of the entire irrigation system.

This comes amid a broader pattern of farmer agitations over canal water allocation in Rajasthan, where disputes between upstream and downstream communities over dam releases have periodically triggered road blockades and social unrest. How effectively the administration delivers on its 10-day repair commitment will determine whether calm holds in the region.