Akhnoor, August 8: JKPCC Kissan Congress Chairman Bharat Priye, accompanied by youth leader Kali Das, former Sarpanch Sumit Sharma, former Panch Shamla Verma, Headmaster Om Parkash, Ashwani Kumar Sharma, Ranjeet Singh and Jaldi Baba, today visited Muthi Maira in Akhnoor to assess the extensive damage caused to agricultural land after Chenab water entered the fields.
During the visit, the delegation witnessed the devastation caused to thousands of kanals of agricultural land, with standing crops, fodder and other agricultural resources reportedly destroyed after floodwaters inundated the fields. The affected farmers are facing severe hardship as agriculture remains their principal source of livelihood and the foundation of their family sustenance.
Expressing serious concern over the situation, Bharat Priye alleged that the government has failed to take timely and effective measures despite the matter falling within the jurisdiction of the concerned departments. He said the continued inaction at a time when farmers have suffered massive losses speaks volumes about the alleged lack of sensitivity towards the problems confronting the farming community.
“The farmers of Muthi Maira have lost not only their crops but also the fodder on which their livestock depend. For farming families, this is not merely damage to a field—it is a direct blow to their livelihood and their ability to sustain their families,” Priye said.
He said the destruction of agricultural fields has created a dual crisis of food and fodder for the affected households. Many farmers who had invested their savings, labour and resources in cultivation now face uncertainty about how they will recover their losses and meet their daily expenses.
Priye urged the administration to undertake an immediate and comprehensive assessment of the damage through field-level surveys and ensure that every affected farmer is brought within the ambit of relief and compensation.He demanded that the government provide adequate compensation for damaged crops, restoration of agricultural land, assistance for fodder and livestock, and necessary support for restarting farming activities before the next agricultural cycle.
He further called for urgent measures to strengthen flood protection and drainage arrangements in vulnerable areas so that farmers are not repeatedly exposed to similar devastation.The delegation also interacted with affected farmers and listened to their grievances. The farmers reportedly sought immediate government intervention, financial assistance and restoration measures to enable them to recover from the losses.
Priye maintained that protecting agriculture must remain a priority, particularly in rural areas where farming is closely linked with the economic security of entire families.He appealed to the administration to treat the situation as an urgent humanitarian and livelihood issue, rather than waiting for the affected farmers to repeatedly approach government offices for relief.
