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Paddy crop over 4,000 acres flooded in Kapurthala villages
At least 8 villages stare at spectre of loss after the drain on Sultanpur Lodhi-Dhalla village road overflows; prediction of more rain worries farmers
An overflowing drain along the Sultanpur Lodhi-Dhalla village road has meant that 4,000 acres of paddy transplanted in villages is flooded (submerged) and is at risk of some loss of yield. With more rain predicted over the next days, farmers of Nadala, Dhilwan and Sultanpur Lodhi villages are worried and have sought compensation from the local administration. The failure of the potato crop earlier this year is also weighing in on farmers. Other villages where paddy fields are submerged are Shahwala , Fattuwal, Depewal, Ugrupur and Gillan.
Road’s raised level a problem for 12 years
The fields along the Sultanpur Lodhi-Dhalla road are submerged every season, but the problem of flooding due to the raised road level stays unresolved.
The farmers of and others in Sultanpur Lodhi said they had taken up this matter with the district administration, MLAs and Public Works Department (PWD) officials, but to no avail. “The issue has been raised before the administration several times. Even last year, over 500 acres of crop was damaged due to flooding. The road needs at least five drains, especially during the monsoon,” Harshinder Singh, a farmer of Shahwala village said. Farmers in Sultanpur Lodhi subdivision said water had risen to four feet in paddy fields and the crop would be damaged.
Officials visit villages
District chief agricultural officer Inderjeet Singh said, “Rain at this time when farmers have just started sowing paddy will damage the crops.” He added the exact loss of yield could not be assessed as water was still receding.
However, he admitted that 4,000 acres of paddy in villages around the Beas river were submerged. Kapurthala DC Mohammad Tayyab, SDM Charumita Shekhar and chief agriculture officer Inderjeet visited the area with PWD officials.
“Some farmers block natural water exits in fields adjacent to their own crop. This amplifies the problem and everybody suffers,” said SDM Shekhar, adding that the problem was a serious one in Mand this monsoon.
