June 13 (Punjab Khabarnama) : Hundreds of acres of land have been submerged due to a crack in the Rajasthan Bikaner canal passing through village Luther in Ferozepur and the fields have been filled with water up to 2-2 feet, due to which the crops of the farmers have been destroyed.
The villagers told that water was released in this canal yesterday so that the farmers can get its benefit and they can sow paddy, but due to the negligence of the canal department, the canal could not bear the pressure of water in village Luther and a crack more than 20 feet wide has appeared in it, due to which the paddy and seedlings planted by the farmers have completely drowned in the water. The affected farmers say that they had planted paddy after finding laborers with great difficulty, but due to the breaking of the canal dam, both their money and hard work have been wasted. The farmers alleged that the officials of the canal department did not properly investigate where the banks of the canal are weak and where they need to be repaired. He said that in a hurry, the canal department released water in the canal while implementing the decision taken by the Chief Minister of Punjab and due to increased water pressure, a crack of more than 20 feet wide has appeared in this canal.
He said that even after several hours, the officers and employees of the canal department have not yet reached to fill this crack in the canal, due to which the anger among the people of the village is increasing. The people of village Luthra told that the affected farmers are filling the crack by putting sacks to stop the water at their own level, whereas the need is that the administration and the canal department should fill this crack as well as save the crops of the people from getting damaged. People told that due to the fast flow of water, water has started entering the houses around the village and if it is not stopped on time, then water will enter the village and people will have to face great difficulties and loss of crops.