After floods, silt chokes fields as farmers seek desilting drive in Patiala

With floodwaters gradually receding in state, a far graver challenge now confronts farmers: sand and silt deposits left behind on their fields. Farmer unions have urged the government to launch an urgent desilting drive as small farmers are the worst affected.

Most farmers had borrowed heavily from arhtiyas to sow their paddy crop this season. With much of the standing crops destroyed, cultivators not only face mounting debt but also lack the means to clear fields now covered in thick layers of silt.

Santokh Singh, a farmer from Untsar village, said nearly two feet of sand had settled on his paddy field. “In April, I borrowed money from an arhtiya to sow paddy. Now the crop is gone, and I do not have the resources to desilt my land. The government must step in with interim financial relief,” he demanded.

Prem Singh Bhangu, president, All India Kisan Federation (AIKF), has demanded that the government both at Centre and the state government should offer interim relief package. “Floods in the Ghaggar are not new. Each time the river wreaks havoc, leaders visit affected families. They make promises of permanent solutions and then vanish once the water recedes,” said Bhangu.

Deputy Commissioner Preeti Yadav assured that all possible assistance would be extended to help flood-hit families.

Meanwhile, at the gurdwara near Sarala Head, a medical camp has been set up where doctors are witnessing a surge in patients. Rajpura SDM Avikesh Gupta said, “The real challenge begins now, once the water recedes.”

Dr Anmol, stationed at the camp, said cases of skin allergies were on the rise. “We expect the number of patients to increase further in the coming days,” he warned. Satnam Singh of Kami Kalan, who is suffering from ringworm and severe itching, said many villagers were facing similar skin problems, while children were falling ill with cold and flu.

SDM Gupta said the water level had gone down considerably in Darwa and Untsar villages. In Chamaru, where the approach road was submerged, the water level had receded from four feet to 1.5 feet. “I urge residents to immediately report any diarrhoea cases to the authorities. We are also working to restore uninterrupted water supply,” he said.