Water flow in Ravi decreases, farmers relieved

AMRITSAR: In a relief to the farmers and people living in the nearby areas of Ravi river, the flow of water has decreased from 1.45 lakh cusec to 1.12 lakh cusec. “The situation is under control,” Amritsar deputy commissioner Kamaldeep Singh Sangha, here on Tuesday.

Sangh along with sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Rajat Obrai and other officials conducted a visit to Ajnala sub-division to take stock of the situation.

“The administration has made all arrangements to deal with any kind of emergency situation and a control room has also set up. People in crisis can contact at 0183-2229125 any time,” he said. “As per the estimate, the rain has damaged the crops on more than 12,000 hectare”, said Dalbir Singh Chhina, chief agriculture officer, Amritsar.

He said, the district recorded an average of 120 mm in the last few days.

Sharing the details of the damaged crop, he said, paddy and basmati crops were sown on 1.8 lakh hectare, out of which 9,000 hectare was destroyed.

AGRI OFFICIALS TO ASSESS CROP LOSS IN GURDASPUR

Deputy commissioner (DC) Vipul Ujwal ordered girdawari of the crop loss caused due to incessant rain that lashed Gurdaspur district for two days, on Tuesday.

Chief agriculture officer Inderjit Singh said, “Teams have been formed to assess the crop damage and a report will be sent to the state government for further action to provide relief to the affected farmers.”

The chief agriculture officer said, the Basmati (1509) is the worst affected crop.

“Other rice varieties —121,126 and 1121 — will produce good yield if the standing rainwater in the fields is drained out within three to four days if the rain doesn’t hit the area again during the said period,” Chief agriculture officer Inderjit Singh said.

The over all damage caused by rains to the paddy crop in Gurdaspur district will not exceed 5%, the deputy commissioner said.

Kirti Kisan Union, Punjab, vice-president, Satbir Singh of Sultani village asserted that the paddy growers in the district will have to suffer bigger losses than estimated as their crop will not be able to fulfil the specifications fixed by the government procurement agencies for purchase.

He said, “If we sell the produce to private players,they will exploit the farmers.”