Muktsar, July 25, Battered by the recent downpour, farmers in a number of villages in Muktsar district are staring at a major loss. Some of them have even ploughed their cotton fields, preparing them to sow paddy.
Some farmers of Malout subdivision said drains were unable to carry the rainwater and their fields were waterlogged. “We are left with no option except to pluck the recently sown cotton crop and incur heavy losses. The authorities concerned have failed to drain out the rainwater from the fields,” said a farmer at Midda village.
Some other farmers of Udekaran village said they had been bearing the brunt of official apathy every year during the rainy season. “Nothing has changed in the past few years irrespective of the party in power. Every year, our fields remain waterlogged for almost a month during the monsoon. No drainage system has been put in place yet. We are fed up with the attitude of the state government towards us. What is our fault? The water from neighbouring villages inundates our fields, but the administration has no plan to deal with the problem. Shall we migrate to somewhere else?” asked Jagmeet Singh, a farmer. Some farmers at Haraj village complained of a similar situation.
Avtar Singh, District Revenue Officer, Muktsar, said, “The drainage wing officials have sought funds to drain out rainwater from Bhagsar, Tamkot and Lakhmireana villages. About other villages, we have not got any report from the officials concerned.” Notably, 150 mm rainfall on July 25 had affected the farmers badly.
