Fearing major losses, farmers seek ex-minister Sukhnandan’s support

Irrigation Deptt’s negligence destroys over 500 kanal watermelon crop in Garkhal

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: Watermelon growers in Garkhal village are in major trouble due to the negligence of Jammu and Kashmir Irrigation Department’s negligence in opening another channel which was otherwise resisted by the Sarpanch sensing flood like situation in land measuring over 500 kanals effecting over 500 farmer families.
This flood which has filled over 10 feet water in our fields had totally damaging our watermelon crop, narrated Sarpanch Kuldeep Singh to former minister and senior BJP leader Choudhary Sukhnandan Kumar when the later visited the spot on the demand local villagers of Patwar Khundpur and Leharian in Gharkal area falling under the AKhnoor constituency.
“We had told the irrigation department officers for not opening the additional water channel,” told the villagers adding that now we can’t even reach in the fields to collect the crop. Its life threatening to go there, they added.
The former minister Sukhnandan Kumar also assessed the situation on the spot and spoke to the Additional Deputy Commissioner on telephone to immediately intervene for the rescue of thee villagers, who were threatening to commit suicide if their crop is damaged in flood like situation in their fields.
“There are two options— one the canal water level be reduced by reducing water in river Chenab by requesting the Salal dam authorities or request Army to make a temporary water bride so that the villagers can go their fields and collect their crop emerged in area,” said the BJP leader Sukhnandan Kumar.
Locals even demanded registration of FIR against the Irrigation Department officers as because of their negligence, the life of the farmers have been put on risk despite damaging their crop.
“The fruits dealers from Valley, and other places are station at our village to lift the watermelons and we are unable to go to our fields, lamented a local villager, adding “we have taken loans from Banks for cultivation and if we are not able to supply crop to the dealers we are finished.”
And all this loss is because of the negligence of officers sitting in air-conditioned offices who are unaware of the ground situation, said Sarpanch Kashmir Singh.
Former Minister Sukhnandan Kumar, who visited the spot along with others, has assured the villagers to resolve their issue and he will take up the matter with the Divisional Commissioner tomorrow so that the watermelon crop is not totally
damaged.