BIKANER, Oct. 12 -- Farmers protesting inadequate irrigation water in Gharsana (Anoopgarh) blocked National Highway 911 near Patroda and removed police barricades with tractors before marching towards Sri Ganganagar under leadership of Nagaur MP and Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) convenor Hanuman Beniwal late Saturday. The escalation followed the failure of talks with the administration to produce a written agreement on the farmers' demands. After a 9.15 pm deadline expired on Saturday, Beniwal led the march with hundreds of farmers joining the convoy in tractors and other vehicles. The protesters removed barricades erected by police to stop their advance and shut the 12 MD toll plaza. Farmers later staged a blockade on the highway near Patroda, disrupting traffic. Only emergency vehicles, including ambulances, were allowed to pass. The immediate trigger for the escalation was the failure of negotiations to produce a written commitment on the farmers' demands. A meeting was held at the Gharsana Panchayat Samiti on Friday, involving government representatives and local political leaders, including former minister Surendra Pal Singh TT, Nihal Chand Meghwal and Gurdveer Singh Brar. The discussions covered changes to the irrigation schedule, crop-loss compensation, insurance claims, permanent water management in Anupgarh branch canal and action against irrigation department officials. Farmer representatives had described the talks as positive, saying the government side had indicated that a solution could be worked out within a day or two. However, no written settlement was reached by Saturday night, prompting Beniwal to announce the march towards the district headquarters. As the convoy advanced, police put up barricades to stop the farmers. Protesters used tractors to remove the barricading. The farmers subsequently blocked the highway near Patroda and closed the 12 MD toll plaza. By Sunday morning, protesters had established a sit-in on the highway and said they would continue the agitation until their demands were met. The farmers are demanding a permanent six-month irrigation schedule for the Anupgarh branch canal system, equitable water distribution through at least two of the four irrigation groups, a special crop-loss assessment for the previous season to facilitate compensation, and a written agreement at the state government level. They have also raised concerns over crop insurance claims and accountability for the water shortage. The agitation, being led by the- Khet Bachao-Kisan Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, began on September 10 and entered its 32nd day on Sunday. Farmers say inadequate irrigation supplies, particularly in tail-end areas, threaten cultivation during the rabi season. Beniwal joined the agitation on Saturday, addressed the gathering and warned that the movement would intensify if the government failed to meet the demands. RLP warned of a statewide road blockade and closure of toll plazas if the dispute remained unresolved....