Fear of losing livelihood looms over 200 farmers

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Rewari, June 16

The Irrigation Department has cancelled the plan to lease out over 700 acres agricultural land located around Masani Barrage here to farmers. The decision has hit over 200 farmers of 14 villages in the district, who had been cultivating this land for over three decades to make ends meet.

Sources said the process had been cancelled in the face of the state government’s decision to transfer the land to the Forest Department.

“Over 200 farmers have been carrying out agricultural activities on the land since 1979. The Irrigation Department used to lease out the land every year. This year also, the lease process had to be initiated on June 8, but it was cancelled. We will be devastated if the land is handed over to the Forest Department. We don’t have any other source of income,” said Yuvraj, a farmer from Raliawas village.

“The farmers are concerned about their future owing to this unpleasant development. It will snatch their only source of livelihood. We called on Rewari DC Yash Garg and SE (Irrigation) SK Singla yesterday, urging them to protect their future. The officers have assured us of taking up the matter with the higher authority,” said Satyawan, another farmer from Nikhri village.“I have taken up the matter with the higher authorities. Further order is likely to come in a week,” said Singla.