Release of extra water Satluj to launch Water Cruise, damages crop in border villages in Ferozepur

Ferozepur, December 13, 2016: To successfully launch the dream project of Deputy Chief Minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal of “Water Cruise” – Amphibious bus –  at  Hari Ke Pattan on Monday, to promote tourism in Punjab, around 500 acres crop said to have damaged due to release of heavy flow of water in Satluj River from Bakhara Dam.

This was alleged by Narinder Singh Sandha – candidate for Aam Aadmi Party from Ferozepur City – after visiting the border villages and meeting the affected farmers – Surjit Singh, Paramjit Singh, Pritam Singh, Kirpal Singh, Sukhwinder Singh, Darshan Singh, Harjinder Singh, Boota Singh and Harmesh Singh.

It may be mentioned that Water Cruise trial could not be undertaken two days on December 10, before its formal launching and to make this dream project operation, the more release of water arranged from Bhakhra Dam on the request of Irrigation Department.

The Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had inaugurated Harike Water Cruise at Hari Ke Pattan on Monday with a view to develop tourism in Punjab to the Harike Wildlife Sanctuary to have close glimpse of its rich biodiversity.

This has resulted the damage of hundreds acre of potato, peas and wheat immature crop standing in the fields in the border villages of Gunder Gatti, Habib Ke and Hazara Singh Wala.  The farmers of these villages  have demanded compensation by conducting a special ‘girdawri.

Sandha said, “Xen Vijay Pal Mann when contacted could not any satisfactory reply rather disconnected the call on mobile in haste”.

The residents of the border villages also said that earlier they had been uprooted due to tension on the international border whenthe villagers within 10 KMs radius were evacuated.  They had hardly settled back when the crops sown in the field with hard labour have been damaged due to heavy flow of water in the Satluj river.

Sandha also informed that he will take up the matter with the district administration for compensation of the damaged crop.

On the other hand when SDM Harjit Singh was contacted, he said, shortly a team will be dispatched to take stock of the situation and a notice to the concerned official for negligence will also be issued.

The bird lovers are of the view that they will miss the migratory birds during the peak season when thousands of ducks visit the wetland,  with the sailing of bus regularly in the river.