Farmers meet Fatehabad DC over water shortage & crop loss issues

The Kisan Sabha Tehsil Committee delegation met the Fatehabad Deputy Commissioner (DC) on Saturday to raise several pressing concerns faced by farmers, including irregular canal water supply, black marketing of DAP fertiliser, shortage of straw baling machines and unfair crop purchases in grain markets.

The meeting, chaired by tehsil president Pat Ram Dhani Ishar, highlighted that frequent changes in the canal water schedule were damaging crops. Farmer Amarjeet Singh Dhaka from Bhuthan Kalan said water from the Tohana Head to the Fatehabad Distributary Canal was not released as per the October 24 schedule and was later reduced again, affecting hundreds of farmers. Responding to the complaint, the DC summoned the Executive Engineer (XEN) and ordered immediate release of full canal water.

Officials confirmed that water flow was restored later that night and promised to release additional water after November 6 to compensate for crop losses. Farmer Om Prakash Kuldia alleged large-scale black marketing of DAP fertiliser, saying the dealers were forcing the farmers to buy unnecessary items and charging Rs 300- Rs 500 extra per bag. The farmers also complained about the shortage of machines for making straw bales, saying this forced them to burn stubble despite government restrictions.

Raising another issue, Krishan Jiyani said the traders in the Fatehabad grain market were purchasing paddy at arbitrary prices, often Rs 200- Rs 300 per quintal below expected rates, as auctions were conducted for only a few hours daily.

The DC issued strict directions to all departmental officers present, ordering immediate redressal of the farmers’ problems.

After the meeting, Pat Ram said the DC had taken the farmers’ grievances seriously and promised prompt action. However, he warned that if issues were not resolved within the agreed timeframe, the Kisan Sabha would launch continuous sit-in protests outside officials’ offices. The delegation members Balbir Beniwal, Ramkumar Chabarwal, Devilal Kuldia, and Subhash Sharma were also present.