Sangrur farmers worried over fire incidents in fields

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, April 13

Farmers of the district are worried over increasing fire incidents in fields where wheat crop has already matured.

Lakhwinder Singh from Wazidgarh Rohne village said, “I have taken 13 acres on annual lease. A fire broke out in my fields three days ago, destroying the wheat crop on eight acres. This is the third incident since 2015 when sparking from wires passing through fields has burnt my fully grown crop. I have suffered a loss of Rs 20 to Rs 23 lakh during these years, but repeated requests to PSPCL officials to shift out wires seem to have fallen on deaf years.”

Singh owns two acres of land and has been taking 13 acres more on annual lease of Rs 55,000 per acre. But repeated fire incidents has left him under a huge debt.

Two days ago, standing wheat crop on two-and-a-half acre was burnt at Rampura Jawaharwala while at Jhaloor village, standing crop on several acres was destroyed.

“The officials concerned have not been taking our complaints seriously,” alleged farmer Shavinder Singh. BKU-Ugrahan president from the Lehra block Dharminder Pashore said,“The government must release financial help to the affected farmers and take steps to prevent such incidents.”

DC Ramvir said before the start of the wheat season, he had directed PSPCL and officials of other departments to take required steps to prevent fire incidents in fields. “But if any farmer has suffered losses due to fire, he can apply for a compensation,” the DC added.