Rohtak farmers demand girdawari, extension of crop claim deadline

A flood-like situation has gripped several villages of Rohtak district, with water accumulated in agricultural fields has now inundated roads, streets, schools and other premises as well.

Standing crops of paddy, bajra, cotton and jowar, grown on thousands of acres in the district, have been destroyed due to waterlogging.

The district administration and the Irrigation Department have set up pumping stations to drain out excess water.

“Our village is completely choked. Water has inundated roads, streets, homes, and public buildings. The standing crops are ruined, and the sowing of wheat also looks unfeasible in these conditions,” lamented Karamvir Lohan of Saiman village.

Several villages in Meham, Kalanaur and Sampla blocks of Rohtak district are facing similar problems owing to constant rainfall and waterlogging of agricultural fields. A meeting of the All-India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) was held at Sampla town in the district to ponder over the prevailing situation.

After the meeting, the Kisan Sabha demanded immediate relief to the affected farmers whose crops have been destroyed due to excessive rain and waterlogging.

Preet Singh, the district president of the sabha, demanded the provision of the pending crop-loss compensation of 2022. Naveen Kultana, the secretary of the local unit of the sabha, also urged the district administration and authorities concerned to expedite the drainage of water from agricultural fields.

Meanwhile, a delegation of prominent residents of the Meham area met Rohtak Deputy Commissioner Sachin Gupta and apprised him of the flood-like situation prevailing in the villages.

The delegation, which included former MLA Umed Singh, Haryana Federation of University and College Teachers’ Organisations (HFUCTO) president Dr Vikas Siwach and Col Ashok, requested the Deputy Commissioner for a permanent solution to the perennial problem of waterlogging. The residents demanded that the last date for filing the crop-damage claims on the e-kshatipurti portal be extended so that the affected farmers can register their losses.

They also demanded that the entire Meham area be declared flood-prone and a special girdawari conducted to assess the damage caused to the crops.