Double whammy for paddy growers in Muktsar

Tribune News Service

Lambi/Muktsar, August 1

Heavy rain has doubled the losses of farmers in Muktsar district, especially the ones who had sown the basmati crop again, after the rainwater level reduced.

Trees uprooted

A fresh spell of rain and high-velocity winds uprooted many trees in Muktsar on Sunday. It may have caused damage to the resown crop as well. — Gurpreet Singh, Chief Agriculture officer, Muktsar

Bhupinder Singh of Midda, which is one of the worst-affected village, said, “I own eight acres and have taken 42 acres on lease for Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 per acre. Initially, I had sown basmati and cotton crop. Rain after July 15 damaged the entire crop in a vast area. After the water level reduced last week, I had resown the basmati crop. However, it has again got submeregd. I spent Rs 5,000 per acre on sowing basmati last month and now cost me Rs 10,000 per acre. I have suffered a loss of Rs 15,000 per acre. The state government is yet to order a special girdawari.”

He claimed that his cotton crop had got damaged due to the rain in 2019, but he had not received compensation so far. Shivraj Singh of Tharajwala village said, “Nearly 15 days have passed after the rain wreaked havoc in the district. Nobody from the state government has come to help us. We somehow managed to bring down the water level in our fields, but recent showers has made matters worse.”

Meanwhile, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal today visited Lalbai village and handed over some water-lifting pumps and pipes to the residents to drain out water from their fields. Davinder Singh of Haraj village said, “We are praying to the God to save us. One more rain will create a situation like 2013.”

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