Thick blanket of sand envelops crops along Yamuna in Karnal

Farmers in several villages situated along the Yamuna in the district are staring at devastation after the recent flooding left behind thick layers of sand and silt on the crops in the fields. Farmers say they are struggling with the double blow of crop loss and legal hurdles in reclaiming their own land.

“The flood has not just washed away our crops, it has left behind a desert,” lamented Charanjeet Singh, a farmer from Nagal village.

“A thick blanket of sand has covered nearly 8 to 10 acres of my land and paddy and sugarcane crops are gone. Even if we try to remove the sand, the Mining Act stops us from lifting it. We are caught between natural disasters and legal restrictions,” he said.

The problem is not confined to Nagal village. Similar conditions have been reported from villages along the Yamuna, including Randoli, Kamalpur, Sayeed Chapra, Japti Chapra, Nabiabad, Halwana and Dakwala. Farmers say their once-productive land is now unfit for cultivation unless immediate measures are taken.

Amrinder Singh, another farmer, echoed the concern: “Sand has swallowed our fertile soil. This is a major issue which will haunt us even after the floodwater recedes. If the government does not bring relief, we will be unable to sow the next crop. We demand urgent support,” he said.

In 2023, farmers had faced a similar situation after flood caused heavy sand deposition. At the time, the state government had issued guidelines as a “one-time measure” to dispose of sand and silt. The Director, Mines and Geology, Haryana, had directed all Deputy Commissioners to implement compensation measures based on the thickness of sand and silt deposited on agricultural fields.

Sukhwinder Singh, another affected farmer, pointed out that this was not the first time they faced such a crisis. “We thought the government would put in place a permanent solution, but again, our fields buried under sand,” he said.

BKU (Sir Chhotu Ram) spokesperson Bahadur Singh Mehla said the government should adopt a practical approach. “Like the Punjab government, Haryana should allow us to sell the sand, which will help the farmers to recover some of their losses, instead of being punished by the law,” he said, adding that the farmers need a permanent solution and should be allowed to clear the sand.

DC Uttam Singh said, “The matter has come to our notice and we will be taking it up with the state government,” he said.