Canal breach inundates paddy fields, nurseries in Tarn Taran
TARN TARAN: Crops over at least 300 acres were destroyed after a breach in Nikasu canal following heavy rains at Bileyawala village, 20km from here, on Tuesday night.
Paddy fields and nurseries at Sarhali Kalan, Khara and Bileyawala villages remained inundated on Wednesday. “We have been trying to contact irrigation department officials to plug the breach, but they are not attending the calls. The strong current of water has destroyed paddy and vegetables,” said a farmer.
“The Nikasu canal, which starts from Dhariwal in Gurdaspur district, is not paved and our fields remain flooded every year when the department releases water,” said another farmer, adding that the department has not paid any heed to our complaints.
When contacted, Tarn Taran sub-divisional magistrate Amandeep Kaur said: “The tehsildar has been directed to visit the spot.”
RAIN THREATENS COTTON CROP IN MANSA
MANSA: More than 300 acres of paddy and cotton fields are affected by heavy rain at Sahnewala, Ghuduwala and Dasoundhia villages in Mansa, raising a fear of heavy loss to crops.
Farmers of Sahnewala village, where around 200 acres have been flooded, said they have no option but to drain out the excess water manually.
“Rain is not an issue but stagnation of water in our fields poses problems. We don’t know as to how we will drain out the excess water,” said Gurmail Singh of Sahnewala village.
The three villages are situated at a low-lying area in Jhunir block and every year the cotton crop gets submerged due to rains. “While the district has seen loss of cotton crop due to pesticide and canal breach in the last couple of years, villages in our area have seen damage of cotton crop due to excess water every year,” said a farmer from Dasoundhia village.
Deputy commissioner Dharam Pal Gupta said: “Farmers should drain out the water from their fields themselves. What can the administration do in this?”
District agriculture officer Gurdita Singh downplayed the issue and said water stagnation can harm the cotton crop but as of now it seems very unlikely.