Excess water damages 35,000 kanals of ‘arable’ land in Budgam: farmers demand compensation
Srinagar: The farmers from four villages of central Kashmir’s Budgam Friday alleged that the excessive water released by the Department of Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC), has destroyed 35,000 kanals of arable land.
The farmers alleged that the regular flow of water by the I&FC department has destroyed 35,000 kanals of arable fields used to grow rice in four halqas of Budgam, inflicting losses worth crores of rupees on them.
The farmers living in four villages including Rakhe-Shalina, Shalina, Samarbugh and Pohroo village of central Budgam demanded compensation from the government for the losses they suffered due to the excessive water flow into their paddy lands.
“35,000 kanals of paddy land was destroyed as the department of Irrigation and Flood Control continues to release water. This water is actually discharged for brick-kiln owners situated at different locations in Budgam district. Crops that we sowed with our blood sweat stands destroyed,” Ali Mohammad, a farmer from Rakhe-Shalina informed ‘Kashmir Images’.
He said the authorities must compensate the farmers’ losses.
They appealed the Deputy Commissioner Budgam to personally intervene in the matter and fix responsibility on the I&FC department.
