Jharsuguda: More than 50 acres of agricultural land have been submerged by backwaters of the Hirakud reservoir in Gudam village under Pithinda gram panchayat in Lakhanpur block, damaging standing crops and affecting over 25 farmers.
The inundation followed incessant rain and a rise in the water level of the Hirakud reservoir. Farmers said large stretches of farmland remained under water, damaging vegetables and other crops and causing substantial financial losses.
Crops such as cauliflower, cabbage and other vegetables have been extensively damaged. According to the affected farmers, around 15 acres of groundnut crop, five acres of bitter gourd, five acres of beans and two acres of brinjal remain submerged. They said crops in several fields have already been completely damaged, while water is yet to recede from many areas.
Farmers fear that if the water does not recede soon, the remaining standing crops may also rot. Several of them said they had invested in cultivation through loans and were now facing serious financial distress due to the crop damage. The affected farmers have demanded that officials of the departments concerned visit the area and carry out an assessment of the losses. They have also sought compensation and assistance as per government norms.
Lakhanpur tehsildar Prasanna Kumar Patel said the water level of the Hirakud backwaters was gradually receding. “Four villages — Semelia, Sukhasoda, Chikli and Sarda — were mainly affected due to the rise in water level. The water has not reached habitation areas, but agricultural land is still submerged. Once the water recedes, an assessment of the crop loss will be carried out,” Patel said.
