Sewage discharged by MC harming crops

Kharar, November 29

The sewer water discharged by the Kharar Municipal Council (MC) is badly affecting standing crop in fields of many villages in the Kharar area. No action has been taken despite repeated complaints by farmers to the authorities concerned in this regard.

Farmers of nearby villages, including Cholta Kalan, Rangian, Popna and Niyamia, are very much agitated as sewer water had accumulated in their fields, which prevented them from farming.

The Kharar SDM, Himashu Jain, visited villages on Friday and interacted with farmers present on the spot. Among others Mehar Singh Theri, Jaspal Singh Niamian, Pargat Singh Rangian, Manjit Singh Popna, Gurjant Singh Popna and Bachhan Lal Rangian told the SDM that earlier paddy crop was damaged by sewage discharge. It was difficult for them to harvest crop in standing water, farmers added.

Farmers said now sugarcane and vegetable sown by them was badly affected by the sewer water. Even now 30 acres were submerged in dirty water, which prevented sowing of wheat, they added. Farmers told the SDM to instruct the Kharar MC to manage city’s sewage discharge by itself and not drain it in their fields.

Jain inspected fields and ordered the Kharar MC Executive Officer to install pump to drain water from fields. He also asked Drainage Department officials to provide him demarcation details of the drain earlier used for draining sewage, which now had allegedly been encroached. — OC