Farmers' protests are becoming a problem for the Vasundhara Raje government in Rajasthan, with fresh clashes breaking out over lack of irrigation water.

Some 25 people, including a dozen policemen, were injured during a strike in Sriganganagar district called Monday by the Kisan Majdoor Vyapar Sangarsh Samiti to demand the implementation of an irrigation agreement involving the Indira Gandhi Cannal project.

Normal life was paralysed in the district as farmers blocked roads at several places. Officials said the situation in Sriganganagar, Hanumangarh and Bikaner districts remained tense.

The farmers' body is demanding implementation of the agreement signed with the Rajasthan government on a water allowance of 5.23 cusecs per 1,000 hectares of land in December.

Policemen armed with batons dispersed some 500 farmers led by former legislator Hetram Beniwal when they tried to hold a meeting at Gharsana Dhanmandi. Beniwal along with five others were injured.

In another incident, the police used water cannons and more than 15 tear gas shells to disperse 250 farmers who blocked traffic on a national highway linking Gharsana and Anoopgarh.

Anand Shrivastav, the Sriganganagar superintendent of police, said the crowd suddenly turned violent and pelted stones and exploding firecrackers, compelling the police to use force.

A total of 20 people were arrested, including five senior Congress leaders.

Prohibitory orders were clamped Monday night in order to handle the situation. The protests in Bikaner and Hanumangarh division remained peaceful and no major incident of violence was reported.

Heavy police forces, including the Rajasthan armed forces, have been deployed in all affected areas.

"We have closed educational institutes and deployed more force to maintain the law and order situation in Hanumangarh," said district collector Ravi Kumar.

Licenses of over 1,000 weapons held by civilians have been put on hold.

On June 13, five farmers were killed when the police fired at farmers protesting for water in Sohela town of Tonk district.

In October last year, six farmers were killed in police firing in Srigangangar district while demanding more water for irrigation.