Irked at the heavy damage to the standing crop following sliding down of thousands of tonnes of debris, hundreds of farmers and public representatives of Bagga Ser village and its adjoining areas are up in arms against the management of JP Cement company in Arki sub-division of Solan district.The farmers who had suffered financial loss to the tune of lakhs of rupees following sliding down of thousands of tonnes of muck in their cultivable land have stopped the dumping of debris by the management of the company at Bagga Ser.Upset over the alleged indifferent attitude of the management of company in not conceding to their demand, farmers and public representatives yesterday held a meeting at Mangal, urging the Chief Minister to intervene as dumping of debris has recently caused heavy damage to public paths, natural water sources, irrigation water channels and a temple in the area. The farmers alleged that the dumping of thousands of tonnes of muck at Bagga Ser has completely destroyed standing crop on several bighas of land at Bhalag, Samtyari, Bagga Ser, Traeda and Hawanipul villages. The maximum damage has been caused to crops like tomato and ginger.“We have been repeatedly urging the management of the company to avoid dumping at the controversial site as it is destroying crops,” said Mangal Vikas Parishad president N.L. Chauhan.He said that despite the repeated requests by the farmers, the authorities of the company are not showing an interest to address the problem. This has forced the farmers to stop the dumping operation of the company at the village. Chauhan said that after taking a unanimous decision, the Parishad had deployed some farmers at the controversial site to prevent the company’s authorities from dumping the muck. The sliding down of muck had earlier caused heavy damage to some houses, standing crop, water mills, a school building, public paths and natural water sources in the last rainy season.“The management of the company had assured the farmers to give adequate compensation for the crops damaged due to muck but despite the lapse of over a year, nothing has been done,” said T.D. Bhardwaj, former chairman of Kunihar Block Development Committee.He said the debris had completely destroyed centuries-old natural sources of water, including some baolis in the villages. This poses a risk of water-borne diseases as farmers are forced to consume contaminated water.Bhardwaj said the discharging of polluted water by the company was leading to repeated sliding down of debris in the cultivable land.Farmers demanded that the company should immediately remove the debris from the fields and restore the natural water sources. Besides, compensation should also be provided to the farmers whose crop had been destroyed.Company president Rajeev Gaur was not available for comment. However, an official of the Revenue Department said that following complaint of farmers, the loss is being assessed.
