Save Indo-Pak border villagers’ cultivation, soil from flash floods: Sukhnandan appeals to LG
In absence of embankment, Basantar, Devik rivers change its route in Ramgarh
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Earlier, shelling from Pakistan affected agricultural activities along the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir, and now, flood waters from the other side are damaging standing paddy crop in Ramgarh area in Samba District. From near BSF Nursery post to BSF Mallua post and Tanwar BSF post in Ramgarh area, there was flash flood and strong embankments along the border can only save the Indian soil from erosion in the rainy season, said former Minister and senior BJP leader Choudhary Sukhnandan Kumar, adding that last year LG J&K Manoj Sinha visited Chamlalyal Mela and he had assured to the villagers that embankment along Basantar river will be made so that the Indian soil where local farmers grow paddy crop in this season.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu was also ordered by LG J&K to visit and consequently Rs 25 Crore DPR was prepared but nothing was done afterwards. Former minister Sukhnandan Kumar, who on Sunday visited the International border areas in Ramgarh sector along with Sarbjeet Singh Johal to take firsthand account of the situation, said, the farmers in border areas from Ramgarh have suffered heavy losses as thousands of acres of agricultural land along the border has been damaged in flash floods. Significantly, the flood-hit villages have no river or canal nearby and irrigation is carried out using pump sets.
“And, even in the absence of proper embankment, Basantar, Devik rivers change its route in Ramgarh area,” said the former minister, adding that even at two spots, the flash flood has damaged even the fensing of border posts near Tanwar and Mullu.
Several villages in this region and those in its proximity can witness huge losses to agricultural fields in the aftermath of flash floods likely in next rains.
Ch Sukhnandan Kumar has urged the administration to construct protection walls along the rivulets to prevent frequent losses caused to the agricultural fields especially in border areas.
“We appeal to the LG Manoj Sinha to depute teams to the affected areas to assess the situation and issue order to Divisional Commissioner to execute already prepared DPR of Rs 25 Crore,” said Sukhnandan Kumar, adding “otherwise the border villagers will be the major sufferers as there is no one to listen to their woes. Even the embankment will save the eroded land of the villagers.” There is an urgent need to intervene and order the construction of strong embankments especially along border in Ramgarh sector, said senior BJP leader Sukhnandan Kumar.
Others who accompanied the former minister include DDC member Sarbjeet Singh Johal, Sarpanch Kali Dass, Sarpanch Kuldeep Kumar, Shiv Choudhary Mandal Pardhan BJP, Naib Sarpanch Parveen, Panch Rakesh Kumar, Sarda Swarn Singh and Raj Kumar.
