Water recedes in Markanda, but farmers continue to struggle

After flowing above the danger mark for the past several days, and causing severe waterlogging in Shahabad and Pehowa subdivisions, the water level in the Markanda has been receding gradually.

However, the situation for farmers is unlikely to improve anytime soon, as thousands of acres of paddy crop is still underwater. As per data, 3,951 farmers from 200 villages have raised claims for damage in over 23,540 acres in Kurukshetra on the e-kshatipurti portal till September 7.

Shahabad is the worst-affected area, where damage has been reported in 75 villages, followed by Pehowa (46 villages), Thanesar (32 villages), Ismailabad (21 villages), Babain (16 villages) and Ladwa block (10 villages).

On Monday evening, a discharge of 10,871 cusecs was recorded in the Markanda at Shahabad Markanda. While the danger level of the river here is 256 metres, it was flowing at 255.40 metres. At Jalbhera Head, a discharge of 10,670 cusecs was recorded and it was flowing below the 'high flood level' of 6 ft.

Randhir Singh, a paddy farmer from Shahabad, said, “The water in the river has receded, but agricultural fields are still waterlogged, and due to the soil that arrived with the water, the crop has been badly damaged. The connecting roads of villages were also submerged, causing inconvenience to residents. Along with paddy, the sugarcane crop has also suffered damage in Shahabad area.”

Prince Waraich, spokesman BKU (Pehowa), said the Markanda had caused heavy damage, and the farmers were staring at heavy losses. The government should deepen the riverbed and construct strong embankments to protect farmers.”

The Deputy Director Agriculture (DDA), Kurukshetra, Dr Karamchand, said, “The paddy crop in the agricultural fields, which are submerged, has suffered heavy losses due to the Markanda as the river also brings heavy soil with it. Above 10,000 acres have suffered 50-100 per cent loss. The farmers are still uploading the information regarding the damage and the situation will be clear after the survey. About 3.10 lakh acre is under paddy crop in the district.”

The Pehowa Congress MLA, Mandeep Chatha, said, “Severe waterlogging due to overflowing of the Markanda has badly affected several villages at Pehowa. The water hasn’t entered residential areas, but agricultural fields are flooded. We have visited many villages and are listening to the grievances of farmers. The government should find a permanent solution and protect the farmers from the losses they bear every year.”