Haridwar district in Uttarakhand has been grappling with the aftermath of devastating floods that have resulted in the destruction of crops covering more than 53,000 hectares in the areas of Laksar, Khanpur, and Manglaur.
The state's agriculture minister, Ganesh Joshi, recently visited over 35 flood-hit villages in the district to assess the extent of the damage. According to preliminary estimates, the losses incurred due to the damaged crops amount to approximately Rs 38 crore.
Before the floods struck, farmers had sown crops over an area of more than 91,000 hectares in the district. The crops affected by the floods include sugarcane, paddy, and various vegetables, leaving farmers devastated and struggling to recover from the losses.
Minister Ganesh Joshi assured that the disaster-hit areas would be declared as such, and affected farmers would receive appropriate compensation for their losses. He also mentioned that he would appeal to the Chief Minister to provide additional financial assistance from the disaster relief fund in accordance with central government norms.
During his visit to the affected villages, minister Joshi stated that the Pushkar Singh Dhami government stands with the disaster-hit people, and they are committed to providing all possible assistance to help them recover.
Understanding the hardships faced by farmers in such dire situations, Minister Joshi announced a three-month moratorium on the recovery of agricultural loans. Furthermore, the government will consider the demand for an interest waiver on these loans to alleviate the financial burden on farmers.
Besides the devastating floods, there are concerns that chemical effluents from the State Infrastructure and Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand Ltd might have contaminated the fields and contributed to the damage. Minister Joshi has directed officials to investigate this matter thoroughly and take appropriate action to mitigate any further environmental impacts.
The situation in Haridwar district highlights the urgent need for comprehensive disaster management strategies and increased efforts to protect the environment and agricultural land from potential pollutants. Authorities must also consider measures to strengthen resilience in farming communities, ensuring they can recover and rebuild after such catastrophic events.
