Water level recedes in rivers but no relief for farmers

Water level in river Beas and Sutlej decreased on Sunday as compared to a day earlier but there was no relief for the affected farmers.

Reports were received from the affected villages that cattle heads were getting infected with the foot-and-mouth disease for lack of better environment and a place to squat.

There were reports that the number of affected villages— from Bhalojla (near Beas river) to Muthanwala (near Sutlej) — is around 40 and crop is estimated to have been affected in more than 50,000 acres. Due to a breach in the embankment near river Beas at Mundapind and Gharka, crops in these two villages spread over 1,000 acres have been submerged.

Navneet Singh, SDO Irrigation, said water level downstream on Sunday was 75,000 cusecs as compared to 90,000 cusecs on Saturday. The SDO added that upstream, water level in the river today was 98,000 cusecs on Sunday as compared to 1.05 lakh cusecs on Saturday.

Mahanveer Singh Gill, a farmer of Toot village falling near Sutlej river, said that water level had reduced but it will take many days to come down to its normal level as the crops were still submerged. The leaders of Jamhoori Kisan Sabha visited the flood affected Bhail Dhai Wala, Mundapind, Gujjarpura, Ghadka, Chamba Kalan, Kambo, Dhuann Dhai Wala and other villages. Farmers in large numbers complained of the foot-and—mouth disease affecting their cattle head. Farmers alleged that no team of the departments concerned has come to examine their cattle.

Amritsar