Strengthen dams to protect farmers, Centre urged

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 12

Member of Parliament (MP) Santokh Singh Chaudhary raised the matter of breaches caused in the Dhusi bandh along the Sutlej due to floods and the declining water table in the state in the Lok Sabha today.

While speaking during a discussion, the MP said due to floods caused by heavy rains and release of excess amount of water from the Bhakra dam, hundreds of villages of the state were submerged and residents and farmers had to face losses of about Rs 1,220 crore.

He told the House that the Dhusi bandh on the bank of Sutlej gets weakened over time leading to breaches during heavy rains and floods and asked the Central Government to strengthen the dams to protect the crops and houses from the overflowing water.

Raising the issue of the declining groundwater table, Chaudhary said most of the blocks of the state were in a critical condition primarily due to overconsumption of water in growing paddy. He demanded that the Centre should explore avenues to promote crop diversification and give adequate compensation to farmers growing crops other than paddy for their harvest.