Waterlogging damages kharif crops on 43K acres in Rohtak

Ravinder Saini

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Tribune News Service

Rohtak, October 4

Waterlogging due to rain has destroyed bajra, cotton and paddy crops spread over 43,000 acres in the district. While the bajra and cotton crops have suffered damage up to 70%, the paddy crop has suffered 15% damage, as per a survey conducted by the local office of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department to assess the loss due to waterlogging in this monsoon season.

“As per the survey report, the bajra crop has witnessed an extensive damage on 18,000 acres. Cotton on 17,500 acres, too, has been found badly affected by waterlogging. The paddy loss has been witnessed on around 3,000 acres. A majority of the villages here are affected by waterlogging as several spells of rain have been recorded this monsoon season,” said sources.

Jaggu, a distressed farmer from Sundana village, said his entire paddy crop spread over 24 acres, got damaged as the fields remained inundated for around two months. Since no compensation for the damage to paddy due to waterlogging was given under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Beema Yojana, he would have to bear the entire loss on his own.

“More than 500 acres in Sundana are still submerged under rainwater as the process of draining out water is under way at a very slow pace,” he added.

An official said Basantpur, Makrauli, Sunaria, Baland, Ritoli, Kabulpur, Ladhaut, Sanghi, Patwara, Khidwali, Samargopal pur, Bahu Jamalpur, Gaddi Kheri, Aasan, Dhamar, Kansala, Mokhra, Kharkara, Meham, Baniyani, Kalanaur, Garhi, Balambh, Lahli, Kheri Sadh, Naya Baans, Kultana, Ismaila, Samchana, Atayal, Baliyana and Bhainsru Kalan were among the worst-affected villages in the district.

Meanwhile, Preet Singh, district president, All India Kisan Sabha, said the entire crop had been destroyed in over 50 villages in Sampla and Meham blocks. “We will not hesitate to stage a dharna if the authorities do not initiate a special girdawari soon to assess the losses,” he said.