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Archit Watts
Tribune News Service
Muktsar, September 18
After the dewatering work, a white layer called ‘shora’ (efflorescence) can be seen on the agricultural land in some parts of Muktsar district.
Notably, rains in mid-July had inundated nearly 25,000 acres and some residential areas in 58 villages.
The dewatering work has now finished in almost all areas, barring Udekaran village. However, the total estimate of crop loss is yet to be prepared, which is called special girdawari.
As a result, the affected people are making rounds of the revenue officials to know about the status of the crop loss compensation. Notably, the state government gives Rs 12,000 per acre in such cases.
Avtar Singh, District Revenue Officer, Muktsar, said, “Today, I have again asked the tehsildars to compile the crop loss data and submit their report. Even the DC has asked us to speed up the work. As per the existing norms, farmers will get Rs 12,000 per acre for their loss. Similarly, the government will give a compensation of Rs 95,000 against house damage.”
Meanwhile, Baljinder Singh Brar, Chief Agriculture Officer, Muktsar, said, “The white layer emerges due to high level of pH in the water. We have given some recommendations to the farmers to deal with it.”
A farmer from Udekaran village, who had come to the District Administrative Complex on Tuesday, said: “The rainwater is still accumulated in some fields. However, the dewatering work has been stopped. We are the worst sufferers of the rain fury for the last few years. The rainwater comes from other villages, inundates our area. However, the successive state governments have not yet made any proposal to carve out a drain here.”