Crops submerged,Rohtak farmers urge administration to step up dewatering efforts
The district administration is continuing its efforts to remove water from agricultural land affected by recent rains; however, the farmers have urged the administration to intensify their efforts further and ensure that their fields are dewatered at the earliest to prevent further damage.
The local unit of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), on the basis of its own survey, has claimed that the farmers in nearly 15 villages in the district have suffered significant crop losses due to severe waterlogging.
“The waterlogging has damaged kharif crops such as paddy, bajra, jowar, and cotton in Patwapur, Baniyani, Samain, Farmana, Behlba, Nindana, Bhaini Chander Pal, Bhaini Surjan, Bhaini Bhairon and some other villages,” claimed Preet Singh, the district president, AIKS.
He stated that the distressed farmers were now looking at the state government for help. “The district administration should intensify its dewatering efforts, ensure proper compensation for the affected farmers, and find a permanent solution to the persistent issue of waterlogging in the region,” Singh demanded.
Several farmers shared their distressing experiences. Rajendra, a farmer from Behlba village, said he had sown paddy on seven acres, but his crop remained submerged for several days and was completely destroyed.
“Although water pumps are installed in the village to remove water, they are not running consistently due to long power outages. The authorities should provide a reliable power supply so that the accumulated water can be drained as soon as possible,” he pointed out.
Similar accounts were given by other farmers in the village. Ram Bhagat, a numberdar, said that paddy, jowar, cotton, and bajra crops across large tracts of land in Bhalba village were damaged.
Rajpal, a farmer from Bedwa village, said he had cultivated bajra and jowar on five acres, but standing water destroyed the entire crop. Another farmer, Ranbir, reported losing crops on nine acres due to the same issue. Subhash, the sarpanch of Bedwa village, added that although he had approached district officials for assistance, a significant portion of the land in the village still remained underwater.
In response to the crisis, former minister and BJP leader Krishan Murti Hooda visited the affected villages, including Farmana, Bedwa, Badali, Samain on Sunday. He met the affected farmers, assessed the ground situation and spoke directly to senior officers from the spot to understand the ongoing efforts.
He assured the farmers that he would work to secure financial assistance for them from the state government, stating that he would brief Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on the prevailing situation.
“The CM is committed to the welfare of farmers and will certainly ensure that all necessary support is extended to them. I will also meet the Deputy Commissioner on Monday to convey the concerns of the farmers and urge him to expedite the water removal process,” Krishan Murti added.
Meanwhile, DC Dharmendra Singh stated that all possible efforts were being made to drain out the accumulated water from the affected villages and that water had already been removed from the majority of the areas.
“I, along with Rajya Sabha MP Ram Chander Jangra, have already inspected the drainage arrangements in several villages and instructed the Irrigation Department officials to clean the drains and install additional pump sets. Power Department officials have also been directed to provide immediate electricity connections at the sites identified by the Irrigation Department,” said Singh.
The DC assured the farmers that there was no need to worry, as the district administration was working round-the-clock and utilising all available resources to ensure that water was drained from the remaining affected areas at the earliest.
Haryana Tribune