Farmers Block Bathinda-Muktsar Road Over Delayed Crop Damage Compensation
In a significant protest, activists from the farmer organization BKU (Ekta-Sidhupur), alongside residents of Kothe Chet Singh village, brought traffic to a halt on the Bathinda-Muktsar road this Tuesday. The demonstration was sparked by demands for immediate compensation following a girdawari, a special revenue survey, to assess extensive crop damage caused by recent unseasonal rainfall and hailstorms.
Slow Assessment Process Sparks Outrage
Farmers voiced deep frustration over the sluggish pace of the damage assessment, highlighting that only two patwaris have been assigned to survey a vast area of 12,000 acres across nearly half a dozen villages in the Ablu block. This inadequate staffing has raised concerns that the survey will drag on, further delaying much-needed compensation for affected farmers.
Leaders Call for Government Action
Baldev Singh Sandoha, a leader of BKU (Ekta-Sidhupur), emphasized the urgency of the situation. "The girdawari will take far too long at this rate, and compensation will be delayed. The state government must depute more officials and direct them to complete the survey speedily," he stated. Sandoha detailed that farmers have suffered massive losses, with crops being flattened by a combination of rain, hail, and high-velocity winds.
Unresolved Past Compensation Issues
Adding to the grievances, Sandoha alleged that many farmers are still waiting for the full compensation promised for losses incurred during last year's floods. This backlog has compounded the current crisis, eroding trust in the compensation process and fueling the protest.
The blockade underscores growing discontent among agricultural communities in the region, as they grapple with the dual challenges of natural disasters and bureaucratic inefficiencies. Farmers are urging authorities to expedite the survey and ensure timely financial relief to mitigate their hardships.
