Punjab: Hundreds of quintals of paddy crop got soaked in the Abohar grain market on Tuesday. Affected farmers blamed market committee officials and commission agents for the mismanagement. Farmers say the state government is relying on false promises instead of helping them. Sukhjinder Rajan of the Bharti Kisan Union (Rajewal) said the government’s tall claims have fallen flat. “Initially, paddy wasn’t being procured. When farmers brought their produce to the markets, commission agents didn’t provide tarpaulin sheets to protect the grain from rain. The Meteorological Department had warned of rain three days in advance.” “Market committee officials failed to check whether enough tarpaulin sheets were available. The administration should cancel the licenses of commission agents who caused the damage. Trucks have been parked under the market shed, leaving no space for storing the paddy,” he added. An official said action will be taken against the concerned commission agents. Rain also occurred in Mohali, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Pathankot, Ferozepur, Phagwara, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Bathinda, and Ludhiana.
10 Villages in Fazilka Notified Under Silt Removal Policy
Ten villages in Fazilka district have been notified under the “Jisda Khet, Uski Sand” policy announced by the state government. Deputy Commissioner Amarpreet Kaur Sandhu stated that the villages under the jurisdiction of the police include Hastan Kalan, Mahatma Nagar, Teja Ruhela, Chak Ruhela, Muhar Jamsher, Ghurka, Dona Sikandari, Valle Shah Hithar, Valle Shah Uttar, and Muhar Khiva. The Deputy Commissioner said that landowners in these villages can remove and dispose of the silt deposited by the recent floods. They can do so until December 31 without any permit or no objection certificate. Overflowing rivers across the state have deposited a huge amount of silt as floodwaters submerged crops on over 4.81 lakh acres. According to the Punjab Agricultural University, the recent floods in Punjab have altered the state’s soil structure, leading to nutrient imbalances and threatening the productivity of the rabi crop.
Punjab: Paddy crop waiting for procurement gets drenched due to lack of tarpaulin
