The idea of building a dam over River Jawai was conceived in 1903 as its flooding waters caused heavy damage in Pali and Jalore district during monsoon.

The dispute has culminated in a significant protest, popularly known as a 'mahapadav', staged by hundreds of farmers demanding a rightful share of the dam's water.

The Jawai Dam, located on a tributary of the Luni River, was built to harness water resources for agricultural and irrigation purposes.

In an effort to draw attention to their plight and demand a fair share of water from the Jawai Dam, hundreds of farmers from 186 villages in Rajasthan's Jalore district initiated a 'mahapadav' or a prolonged sit-in protest.

The protesters, primarily from villages situated along the Jawai River, have been living at the district headquarters in Jalore.

Their core demand is for the release of one-third of the water stored in the dam to ensure a natural flow into the Jawai river.

They highlight that the dam's construction has led to a reduction in the natural flow of the Jawai River, negatively impacting their ability to draw water from wells and tubewells.