Flood-hit Ajnala farmers struggle with sand deposits in fields

Farmers of Chaharpur village in the flood-affected Ajnala area are facing severe challenges as large amounts of sand and silt remain deposited in their fields after recent floods. Their farmlands lie on the other side of the Ravi river. In the absence of a bridge, they are forced to rely on boats to transport machinery and produce to their farms across the river.

While small equipment and crops can be moved by boats, farmers say it is impossible to transport heavy sand deposits. “We demand that the government should construct a bridge so that transportation of machinery and produce is easy,” said Pritpal Singh, a farmer.

Pritpal Singh shared that his 33 acres of farmland, once a single stretch, was now split into two plots as the Ravi river had changed its course. “While a bigger portion of land has been washed away, the remaining fields are divided on opposite banks of the river,” he said.

Farmers also pointed out that the state government had earlier announced the “Jiska Khet Uski Ret” policy to support flood-hit farmers, but they had not received any effective help so far.

Sitara Singh, another farmer, said, “Without a bridge, we cannot bring machinery to clear our fields. The only option is to push the sand back into the river, but even that requires heavy machines which cannot be ferried across by boats.” The situation has left farmers uncertain about their future. Having already lost their paddy crop, farmers fear that they would miss the wheat sowing season too. They alleged that the government had never compensated them for the land washed away by the river.

Sarwan Singh Pandher, general secretary, Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, said private sand mining contractors were now staking claims over sand deposits in their fields. He demanded strict government action against such elements and reiterated the call for the construction of bridge to connect agricultural land across the river.