Over 13K acres flooded in Kurukshetra; paddy, cane crops affected

Over 13,200 acres of agricultural land under crops such as paddy and sugarcane in Kurukshetra have been affected due to heavy flow of the Markanda river in Kurukshetra.

As per a tentative report prepared by the district administration, the waterlogging has affected the crops in nearly 13,240 acre of 70 villages (55 villages of Shahabad, seven of Ismailabad and eight villages of Pehowa block) of Kurukshetra. As the farmers stare at losses, the district administration has sent a report to the higher authorities to open the e-kshatipurti portal to allow farmers register losses.

Meanwhile, the water in the river has been decreasing gradually. A discharge of over 9,780 cusecs was registered at Jhansa head in Kurukshetra on Friday evening.

Executive Engineer of Irrigation Department Munish Kumar said, “The water level in Markanda is decreasing gradually. There were three breaches in the river at Naisi and Kainthala villages, and the breaches have been plugged. The department has been keeping a close watch on the river and efforts are being made to ensure a smooth flow of water. The embankments are being strengthened.”

The Superintending Engineer of the department also inspected the affected sites in Pehowa and issued directions to the officials.

Bhartiya Kisan Union (Pehowa) spokesman Prince Waraich said, “Paddy farmers have suffered heavy losses due to waterlogging. After a breach in the river damaged paddy crop last month at Naisi village, the farmers had replanted it, but again, the crops have been damaged. The crops are completely submerged under the water. In the affected areas, the farmers have no time left to re-transplant the crops. The portal is yet to be opened. The government should get the girdawari done at the earliest and announce a relief of Rs 60,000 per acre for farmers.”

Deputy Commissioner Kurukshetra Vishram Kumar Meena said, “About 13,240 acres of paddy and other crops are estimated to be affected in about 70 villages of Kurukshetra due to waterlogging. Apart from this report, if any farmer's crop is damaged, he can meet the Revenue Department officials and report the damage. All these reports have been sent to the government and an appeal has been made to open an e-kshatipurti portal for the affected villages of Kurukshetra.”

Meanwhile, in Ambala, too, agricultural fields in several villages of Barara and Mullana areas have been facing waterlogging, including Dheen, Tandwal, Gola, Khera, Hemamajra, Kalpi, Goli, Paplotha, Ramgarh, Hamidpur and Gangheri. Officials said the water was draining out gradually. The exact loss will be known after the assessment of damage.