Rising Harike water level leaves farm land nearby inundated

The farmers having agricultural land alongside rivers in and around Harike are in a trouble these days as they say the closing of gates of headworks has lead to a rise in the water level, submerging their fields.

This flood-like situation has damaged the wheat, fodder and other crops of Gharka, Mundapind, Dhun, Chamba Kalan and others villages in Mand. Kharif crop too was damaged in the rainy season in the area for which compensation hadn’t been given to the affected farmers. Farmers said that as per the policy of the government, the canal water was being released in the Beas river. Whenever the gates of the Harike headworks are closed, water starts getting accumulated in nearby villages and destroys crops.

Member of Parliament Sunil Jakhar, president, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, along with MLA Ramanjit Singh Sikki visited the area around two months back  and assured the farmers of compensation. Pargat Singh, a farmer of Chamba Kalan, said farmers had been waiting for compensation for months, but to no authority approached them so far.

A five-member team of the Zamhoori Kisan Sabha (ZKS), under the leadership of  Pargat Singh Jamarai, visited the affected villages and observed that it was the second consecutive crop damage for farmers in the area. The outfit   has demanded  a special ‘girdawari’ to assess the loss and adequate compensation. Farmers also complain that as the lake at Harike is filled with hyacinth that restricts the flow of water and adds to the water accumulation problem. The ZKS has also demanded early desilting at Harike for the normal flow of water. 

According to the ZKS, most of the roads in the area were dilapidated and governments schools were sans staff. It said the health services, too, were unsatisfactory. 

Kanwalpreet Singh Pannu, state convener of the Kisan Sangharash Committee, Punjab, said announcements were being made through village gurdwaras that compensation would be disbursed after deducting the outstanding dues of the PSPCL. According to Pannu, farmers brought it to his notice at a meeting in Gharka village. “It can’t be justified. It is being done only to terrorise farmers of the area. There is no one to listen to the problems of farmers. In such a situation, a heart broken farmer has no option than to commit suicide,” he added.

Kang represents district at youth fest

Harmandeep Singh Kang, a lawyer from the district, was part of the state’s 20-member team in the recently concluded 22nd National Youth Festival. The festival was organised by the Union Government’s Sports and Youth Welfare Department at Gautam Budh University, Greater Noida (UP). Kang expressed his views on a number of topics related to health, environment, culture, woman empowerment, etc. Kang often addresses rallies in the district on topics like dowry, cruelty against women, dowry, etc. He has been into social activities for years. He was actively involved in the activities of Nehru Yuva Kender. 

Contributed by Gurbax Puri