Release of Bhakra water leads to soil erosion, farmers fume

Anandpur Sahib, July 6

Farmers from Nikuwal, Lodipur, Ballowal, Hariwal and Mehndali Kalan villages staged a protest alleging that excessive release of water from the Bhakra Dam into the Sutlej led to erosion of their fields.

They said the flow of water in the river had increased in the last few weeks and the state as well as the district administration failed in repairing a bund near Lodipur due to which water had started eroding their lands.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, who came in support of the agitating farmers, said despite repeated promises made by leaders of all political parties in the past, nothing had been done to protect the villages from floods. AAP general secretary Dinesh Chadha alleged that despite a loss of over Rs 100 crore due to the floods in the district last year, no steps had been taken.

Kanu Garg, SDM, said due to the repair work at Nakkian Power House, the BBMB had to stop water supply to Anandpur Sahib hydel channel. Following this, 10,000 cusecs of additional water was being released in the river for the last one week due to which the administration had to halt the ongoing flood protection work and many farmers had to suffer losses.

The SDM said she had asked the BBMB to decrease the discharge into the river, adding that the situation would improve by the evening. — OC