When life-giving rivers spell devastation for Yamunanagar farmers

Every monsoon, Yamuna river and other seasonal rivulets turn from a source of life to a cause of devastation for farmers in the district.

As per authorities of the District Revenue Department, this monsoon season, flooding and rainwater has damaged crops on about 14,472 acres in 528 villages of the district, pushing 3,647 farmers into crisis.

The combination of various factors, including uncontrolled floods, shifting river courses and extensive sand mining, has exacerbated the damage, leaving behind submerged fields, barren lands and sand-laden soil.

This month, heavy rainfall and arrival of huge amount of water from Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand pushed the Yamuna river above the danger mark, inundating large tracts of agricultural land and causing land erosion.

Similarly, seasonal rivulets, including Somb and Pathrala, witnessed huge water inflows, damaging crops in Bilaspur, Chhachhrauli, Jagadhri, Pratap Nagar, Radaur, Sadhaura and Saraswati Nagar blocks of the district.

The maximum damage to crops was reported from Jagadhri block of the district, where 781 farmers reported crop loss on about 3,297 acres. In Radaur block, crops were damage on 2,950 acres, while in Saraswati Nagar block crop damage was reported on 2,901 acres.

Tarun Sahota, District Revenue Officer, said the cases/complaints of the crop damage would now be verified at different levels by employees and officers — from Patwari to Tehsildar, District Revenue Officer, SDMs, Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner to give compensation to farmers.

The absence of effective embankments has allowed the rivers to change course frequently, flooding villages and depositing layers of sand that degrade the soil fertility. In areas like Lapra, Kamalpur Tapu, Kanalsi and Bibipur in Yamunanagar district, farmers report erosion in their agricultural land due to flooding in Yamuna river.

The role of sand mining in exacerbating the crisis is a growing concern. Sand, which stabilises riverbeds and supports water regulation, is being extracted at unsustainable rates. In Yamunanagar, residents report a visible degradation of the riverbed due to excessive mining.

Experts argue that sand removal reduces the river’s ability to absorb and slow down water flow, leading to flashfloods in downstream areas. Authorities have struggled to enforce environmental regulations. From time to time, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has observed that mining in the Yamuna violated environmental norms.

This year, the Haryana government has extended the deadline for farmers to report crop damage through the e-Kshatipurti portal to September 15.

Farmers say that compensation — often around Rs 20,000 per acre — is insufficient to cover the scale of their losses. Moreover, flooding not only destroys crops but also renders land uncultivable. Sanju Gundiana, district president of Bhartiya Kisan Union, said the floods had badly damaged the crops and soil in the district. He added that the government should hike crop loss compensation to at least Rs 50,000 per acre.

Financial losses are compounded by debt, as farmers invest heavily on input costs. With crops damaged, many are unable to repay loans, secure fodder or meet daily needs. Prices of vegetables and essentials also spike up due to reduced supply.

Environmental experts emphasise that the problem is not entirely natural. Encroachments in floodplains and poor riverbed management have weakened the Yamuna’s capacity to handle excess water.

This year, the state experienced 48% above-normal rainfall, which the India Meteorological Department attributes to climate change. Environmentalists and farmers are urging the government to invest in flood management infrastructure, regulate mining and restore ecological balance along the Yamuna.

While the NGT has recommended continuous monitoring and better coordination between states, the steps are yet to be fully implemented.

Long-term strategies like riverbank afforestation, wetland restoration and climate-resilient agriculture are seen as essential. For farmers in Haryana, the Yamuna is a paradox —both a vital resource and a recurring threat. As floodwaters recede, the damage is clear and so is the need for urgent reforms. Without coordinated, scientific intervention, the cycle of flooding and loss will persist. As a farmer from Behrampur put it: “Earlier, the river belonged to everyone. Now, it belongs only to those who mine it.”