Jhajjar admn’s efforts to drain out rainwater from fields prove futile

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, October 10

The arrangements made by the district administration to drain out rainwater from agricultural land of several villages here are proving ‘insufficient’ as many fields are still inundated, leaving farmers worried.

Girdawari sought

Rohtak: The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) has urged the administration to start the special girdawari immediately. “Delay in assessment adversely affects the actual loss due to waterlogging but the girdawari hasn’t begun even days after the announcement,” said Preet Singh, AIKS district chief, adding that a delegation would meet Rohtak DC in this respect on Monday.

Sources said fields in Aasodha, Mandothi, Tandaheri, Dabauda, Rohad, Loharheri, Jasaur Kheri, Kulasi, Kanauda and Barahi villages under the Bahadurgarh subdivision were flooded with rainwater and were yet to be cleared.

“My fields have been submerged for the past over two months. Though pumps were installed there to dewater the fields, these proved insufficient. No other arrangement has so far been made to drain out the water. More than 200 acres are still inundated in the village, where the crops of jowar, cotton and paddy have been damaged completely,” said Pradeep, a distressed farmer in Aasoda village.

Krishan of Rohad village said they had been waiting for the removal of water from the fields so as to start the preparations for the next crop. A similar situation was being faced by the residents of nearby villages too, he added.

An officer, however, said excessive rain during this year’s monsoon had brought misery for the farmers. “Neither farmers nor the district administration expected such a long monsoon this year,” he added.

Meanwhile, Bahadurgarh SDM Bhupinder Singh said sincere efforts were being made to drain out accumulated rainwater from agricultural land of low-lying areas before the commencement of the rabi season. “Officers of the irrigation and other government departments have been asked to expedite the water removal work and to chalk out a project in order to ensure a permanent solution to the flooding issue. Meanwhile, the task of special girdawari will be performed in an impartial, transparent and timely manner,” the SDM added.