Hit by Ghaggar fury, residents battle social stigma

Families unwilling to marry daughters in affected villages

BOX: Moonak worst affected

As per the latest report of the Agriculture Department, rain has affected standing crops in 6,530 acres spread in 47 villages, of which 21 villages are in the Andana block while remaining 26 are in the Lehra block. With 500 acres affected by rain, Moonak is the worst affected

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, August 5

Apart from financial woes, seasonal rivulet Ghaggar has been creating social problems as well. Many farmers, whose land is located in the surroundings of the river, are not able to find brides for their sons as majority of people are unwilling to marry their girls in the affected villages.

“My son is 31 years old and we are not able to find a bride for him. Many came to see our land but refused as it is adjacent to the Ghaggar,” said a farmer from Moonak.

BKU (Ugrahan) leader Rinku said in almost all Ghaggar-affected villages, it’s the same story as the families of many youth are trying hard of find suitable brides for their sons.

“In the coming days, things may take a turn for the worse as earlier, many families married their sons in Haryana, but now, the residents of the neighbouring state have also started refusing to marry their daughters in Ghaggar-affected villages,” he said.

Goldy Cheema, former chairman of the Moonak Market Committee, said, “It’s a fact that Ghaggar-affected families are facing problems in finding brides. The government has failed to take effective steps to prevent the fury of the river.”

As per the latest report of the Agriculture Department, rain has affected standing crops in 6,530 acres spread in 47 villages, of which 21 villages are in the Andana block while remaining 26 are in the Lehra block. With 500 acres affected by rain, Moonak is the worst affected, followed by Banarasi (410 acres), Balran (400 acres), and others.

“The water level in the Ghaggar is 740 feet today. In some areas, farmers have started draining out water but it will take four-five days more to remove all of it,” Jaswinder Singh Grewal, Chief Agriculture Officer of Sangrur, said. Deputy Commissioner Ramvir has ordered girdawari for a detailed assessment of crop loss.