Bhiwani, Jan 6: Nearly five months after heavy rains inundated agricultural fields in Haryana’s Bhiwani district, around 2,000 acres of farmland in Jatu Lohari village remain waterlogged, leaving farmers without crops, income or compensation.
Local farmers said standing rainwater has destroyed their kharif crops and prevented them from sowing rabi crops during the current season, resulting in severe financial distress.
“Cotton was completely damaged due to excessive water, and now we are unable to sow any rabi crop,” said Mahipal, a farmer from the village. “Even cotton plants loaded with bolls are still standing in the fields because there was no way to harvest them.”
Farmers alleged that despite repeated assurances from government authorities, no effective steps were taken to drain the water from the fields. They said the continued waterlogging reflected administrative apathy.
“There is still one to two feet of standing water in the fields. Around 2,000 acres are affected,” another farmer said, adding that the water had only recently started drying up on its own.
Several farmers said they had registered their crop losses when the government opened the compensation portal after the damage occurred, but no relief has reached them so far.
“It is a double blow for us. The kharif crop was destroyed and rabi sowing has become impossible. How will farmers support their families in such conditions?” asked Vinod Tanwar, a resident farmer.
Jitender Tanwar said even farmers who had insured their crops were yet to receive insurance claims. “We were assured of compensation at the time, but five months have passed and nothing has been paid,” he said.
Farmers renewed their demand for immediate drainage of stagnant water and girdawari so that compensation could be processed.
Responding to the complaints, the Bhiwani Sub-Divisional Magistrate said a committee had been constituted on the directions of the Deputy Commissioner. “Water drainage will be ensured at the earliest,” the SDM said.
