Noida: Heavy rain destroys paddy on many acres

NOIDA: Several acres of paddy lies destroyed in Greater Noida and Dankaur following continuous rainfall in the region. Farmers said they had sown the paddy in March and expected a harvest in October, but their crops have drooped or stand on waterlogged land now.
They said they were not warned about the possibility heavy rain and demanded compensation from the state government for the damage. The district administration has promised to look into it.
Sunil Pradhan, a resident of Junedpur village in Greater Noida, said he has 50 acres of land, where he sowed paddy in March. "The crop had developed well, and I was expecting a good harvest in October. However, the heavy rains destroyed the crops," he said, adding that farmers' livelihood depends on a good harvest, and the dam-age has shattered many of them. Pradhan has also captured a video of the damage to his crops and shared it on social media, and he demanded the government compensate the farmers.
Suraj Bhati, a resident of Astauli village in Greater Noida, said paddy on his 10-acre land got damaged in the rains. "It costs farmers nearly Rs 4,000-5,000 per bigha for sowing the paddy seeds. After the harvest, we get Rs 10,000-12,000 per bigha. However, the sudden rain has destroyed the crops. In some fields, the crops are standing but waterlogged. Even when the water recedes, the harvest will not be good, and the farmers will not get a good price," he said. Bhati said that Bhartiya Kisan Union would raise the matter with the district administration and seek compensation.
Other local farmers said the calculation of the exact loss is yet to be done and would not be easy as the damage extends to several villages.
Jewar MLA Dhirendra Singh said he wrote a letter to chief minister Yogi Adityanath about the loss of crops in Gautam Budh Nagar. "We have requested the government to conduct a survey and assess the damages of crops and accordingly compensate the farmers," he said.
District magistrate Suhas LY also said the district administration would assess the damage and take suitable steps.