Situation limps back to normal in Yamunanagar

Shiv Kumar Sharma
Tribune News Service
Yamunanagar, August 20

People living near the Yamuna heaved a sigh of relief on Tuesday as the water level receded to 38,600 cusecs at 6 pm. The water level at Hathni Kund barrage was 8,28,072 cusecs at 6 pm on Sunday, the highest since 1872.

Standing crops on hundreds of acres in 35 villages on the banks of the Yamuna were affected. Crops in areas near seasonal rivulets like Somb Nadi and Pathrala Nadi were also affected.

“As per a preliminary report, flood waters caused 25 per cent damage on 1,972 hectares of paddy, maize, bajra and pulses crops. Between 25 per cent and 50 per cent damage was reported on 1,053 hectares, between 50 per cent and 75 per cent on 587 hectares and between 75 per cent and 100 per cent on 522 hectares,” said Surinder Kumar Yadav, Deputy Director, Agriculture, Yamunanagar.

Abhishek Bibian, District Revenue Officer, Yamunanagar, said water got accumulated on 16,800 acres in the district due to floods and rain. “Actual loss to crops can be assessed only after the situation normalises,” he said.

Sources said large-scale erosion was reported from Jathlana and Gumthala areas of the district. Lapra and Pobari villages were surrounded by flood waters. With the water receding, residents of these villagers were feeling a sense of relief.

“The government should give Rs 50,000 per acre as compensation for crop damage and Rs 5 lakh per acre for land erosion to farmers,” said Satpal Kaushik, general secretary of the state Congress.