Cotton crop withers as canals go dry for repair

Praful Chander Nagpal

Fazilka, June 10

Cotton plants in three dozen villages are dying due to a drought-like situation as the minor and main canals of the southern distributaries have been running dry for the past month in the Fazilka area.

The fact that the release of water from upstream has been held — due to the cleaning and repair of the canals — during the peak sowing and cultivation period has irked farmers.

The non-perennial southern distributaries system comprising about two dozen minor and main canals is the lifeline of Fazilka, one of the largest cotton producing belts of the state.

Official sources said the canal department had released water in the southern distributary from April 15 to 30 for the sowing of cotton. After that, the supply was stopped for the “repair and cleaning of the canals”.

“The cotton crop on 25 acres is withering in the absence of canal water. The sub-soil brackish water is not fit for irrigation,” said Hardip Dhaka, Sarpanch of border village Khanpur.

The plants have been facing a tough time due to scorching heat as the mercury continues to hover around 40-45 degree Celsius, said Dhaka.

“The department should have cleaned the canal before March 31,” said former Sarpanch Davinder Singh of Kheowali Dhab village.

“The threat of whitefly attack has increased due to the drought-like situation,” said Sat Pal Goyal, former Sarpanch of Lakhewali Dhab village. “If water is not released, the farmers shall stage a protest,” warned Dhaka, Goyal and Davinder Singh.

Meanwhile, Suman Sood, Superintending Engineer, Canal, Ferozepur Division, said, “The cleaning work has almost been completed and water will be released in the canals soon.”