NAROWAL: Wheat crop on 18,000 acre land has been submerged by rainwater as there is no arrangement for dewatering in Shakargarh tehsil of the district.

Rainwater flowing from the India-held Kashmir got accumulated at more than 15 villages of Danauri, Danaur, Ihsanpur, Ghasatpur, Lodhi Lawarhi, Samon, Bahlolpur, Sarwich Brahmanan, Nargal, Mirpur, Chhani Bahadar Singh, Bherhi, Tarpaee, Mahatpur, Khharlohay, Jhanda, Soojowal, Chak Odhia, Bhagwanpur, Kotli and Kot Nainaan. Owing to non-availability of dewatering wheat crop on 18,000 acre was almost completely destroyed.

In the past, storm water channels would pass between the towns of Ikhlaspur and Kot Nainaan and end in the River Ravi. These water courses would save the crops. During the last three years, some influential landlords allegedly grabbed [the land of] channels by filling them with soil, making them part of their fields. In the prevailing situation, water flowing from the heights of India-held Kashmir and Inayatpur Ghrota gets accumulated in and around various villages, damaging the crops.

On the other hand, some influential landlords have [allegedly] built small embankments around their fields and thus stopped the course of the rainwater coming from other villages. Some influential landlords of Jhanda and Khharlohay villages have deputed armed guards along their embankments to avert changing the flow of water.

Farmers Baba Allah Rakha and Zahoor Ahmad told Dawn that they had time and again complained to the Shakargarh assistant commissioner and Narowal deputy commissioner about the ‘disappearance’ of storm water channel but to avail.

“We are helpless, our crops have been destroyed, earning of the entire year is gone. How will we pay for fertilisers, agriculture machinery and other dues?” Allah Rakha said.

Shakargarh Assistant Commissioner Anwer Baryar said he received complaints about embankments built by some landlords. The AC said no channel [land] was grabbed by anyone and wheat crop got affected by heavy rains.

Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2019