Year on, 200 acres in Rewari village remain submerged

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Rewari, September 25

Water from Kaluwaas sewage treatment plant has submerged hundreds of acres in the district’s Gokalgarh village. Affected farmers have sought compensation.

“We have been unable to cultivate crops for a year, as contaminated water is accumulated in more than 200 acres of fields. Water is released from the sewage treatment plant without intimating the gram panchayat,” said Ramesh, panch of the village.

He said farmers had been running from pillar to post to get the matter resolved, but to no avail. “If flow of dirty water is not stopped, it will inundate houses,” the panch said, adding stagnant water was the cause of diseases.

Lal Singh, another farmer, said: “Agriculture is the only source of income for most of villagers, struggling to make ends meet. A complaint was lodged at the CM Window, but no action was taken.”

He demanded compensation for the loss and threatened to protest if water was not pumped out.

Satish Khola, state coordinator of BJP’s business cell, visited Gokalgarh on Saturday to take stock of the situation. He assured farmers of taking up the matter with Public Health Minister Banwari Lal.

“Since there is no provision for utilising waste water in the treatment plant, it is released in fields,” he said, adding he would call on Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and urge him to award compensation.