Breach in distributary damages cotton crop

BATHINDA, May 20: About 120-foot wide breach in the Kot Bhai distributary at Amargarh village yesterday, has left a trail of destruction, da...

BATHINDA, May 20: About 120-foot wide breach in the Kot Bhai distributary at Amargarh village yesterday, has left a trail of destruction, damaging hundreds of acres of recently sown cotton crop. No loss of life has been recorded so far.

Due to the flow of water after the breach hundreds of acres of land have submerged in two to three feet deep water. About 10 tubewells have been damaged due to the water logging.

Meanwhile, Irrigation Department has engaged an contractor to fill the breach. Executive Engineer G.S. Sidhu said the water in the distributary had been stopped and the breach would be filled by this evening.

Story continues below this ad

He said that an inquiry would be conducted and those who found guilty would not be spared. This is a second breach in 20 days in this district. The government had to disburse compensation worth lakhs of rupees for the damages caused by the earlier breach.

DEMONSTRATION:About 200 vegetable sellers led by PPCC general secretary Surinder Kapoor today violated section 144 imposed by the district magistrate. They staged a demonstration in the local vegetable market where their kiosks were removed by the market committee authorities three days ago, police personnel were mute spectators. Anticipating of the agitation the Deputy Commissioner had imposed section 144 in the town.

These vegetable sellers are demanding alternative arrangement of place for the market, besides compensation for their kiosks. SDM Gurtej Singh, who negotiated with the agitators assured them that an alternative arrangement for the market would be made shortly.