Rains ahead, border farmers say not banking on govt help

Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, July 5

Many farmers whose fields are situated along the Sutlej have been making preparations to save their crops from any rise in the water level in the river. Last year, the swollen Sutlej had played a havoc with the standing crops in this area.

Not waiting for the administration to act, farmers have started working for the rainy season. Jhand Singh of Nihalewala village said he had already put tonnes of soil on his 10-acre land in Tindiwala village to prevent water from entering his fields. Last year, the Sutlej level had risen suddenly in May-end after water was released from the Bhakra. Most farmers are concerned about the condition of the Dhussi bandh. The strong river current poses a major threat to it.

Kashmir Singh of Kaluwala village said the bandh needed urgent repairs, but the lackadaisical attitude of the state government had put the villagers’ lives at risk during the monsoon season. “Every year our standing crops, property and equipment are damaged due to the floods,” he said.

Villages like Tindiwala, Kaluwala, Kamalewala and Khunder Gatti are situated between the Zero Line and the right flank of the Dhussi bandh face floods every year.

Executive Engineer, Golewala, Sandeep Goel said a 600-ft revetment was being constructed at a cost of Rs 75 lakh and Rs 4 crore would be spent on reinforcing the bandh at Gatta Badshah and Alewala.