Surat: Standing crop on an estimated 50 acres of farm land in Dehgam village in Bharuch taluka was damaged following the breach in the small pond constructed for the storage of water used during the ongoing work for the Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway, on Thursday morning.
Farmers in the Dehgam village said that the water gushed into their fields from the lake during the morning hours. When they went to check from where the water was coming, they found a breach in the earthen wall constructed in the open land for the storage of water.
Sources said that the construction company has prepared a small pond in the Dehgam village, which is close to the NH-8, for using the water during construction of the Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway passing from near the village. The pond is constructed in about one bigha land and is about 25 feet deep.
Illyas Patel, sarpanch of Dehgam village told TOI, “The breach in the pond flooded the farm land with standing crop in its vicinity. Farmers have sustained heavy losses following the damage to the standing crop in 50 acres of land.”
According to Patel, the farmers held a meeting with the authorities of the construction company demanding compensation. The authorities will be carrying out a survey to assess the damage and then decide on the compensation.
Salim Ahmad, a farmer from Dehgam village said, “My standing crop of cotton in four bigha land has been destroyed. I had taken the land on lease for cultivation. Now, I will have to bear the losses, if we are not paid the compensation for the same.”