Order girdawari to assess crop loss: Muktsar farmers to govt

Muktsar, July 25

After many areas were waterlogged in villages here following rains around July 15, knee-deep water is still present in some fields. Seeking a special girdawari, farmers said they were unable to sow any other crop this season due to the waterlogging.

Protest outside District Complex

Farmers, under the banner of Bharti Kisan Union (Sidhupur), on Monday staged a protest outside the District Administrative Complex, demanding compensation for the damage to their crops due to rainwater. Later, SDM Swaranjit Kaur met the protesters and pacified them. The protesters also handed over a memorandum to her.

Amrik Singh, sarpanch, Midda village, said, “The 4-5 foot rainwater is still present in fields. The situation is almost similar in some neighbouring villages. The drainage system has totally collapsed.”

Similarly, Bagicha Singh and Nirpal Singh of the same village said, “The farmers are bearing the brunt of waterlogging, but the state government has not acted so far. We are unable to sow any crop now. Further, the orders of a special girdawari have not been issued yet.”

Holding a protest, farmers, under the banner of Bharti Kisan Union (Sidhupur), demanded compensation for the damage of their crops due to rainwater. The farmers said the state government should immediately announce a special girdawari.

Speaking over the phone, AAP MLA from Lambi Gurmeet Singh Khudian said, “The CM is expected to visit the area in next two or three days. He may even announce a special girdawari of damaged crops during his visit. Meanwhile, the administration is trying its best to drain the rainwater. However, the drainage system is faulty and some drains have overflowed as well. We will realign some of the drains in near future.”

He said, “In my constituency, Midda, Raniwala, Bodiwala, Panniwala and Pakki Tibbi villages are the worst affected. Rajya Sabha member Balbir Singh Seechewal also visited the area and brought green fodder for the needy farmers. I will also seek co-operation of Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal as Lambi falls in her parliamentary constituency.”

Gurpreet Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer, Muktsar, said, “The situation is improving in villages as the water level is going down. However, crops won’t be able to survive if fields are still waterlogged. Now, the farmers in those villages where rainwater has drained are trying to get basmati seedlings as it can be sown till the end of this month.”