Gania: Recent flooding in Chhamundia, Rasang, Kishorprasad and Belpada panchayats of Gania block in Nayagarh district has washed away many roads and damaged the crops putting the livelihood of local farmers at risk.
Ready-to-harvest crops such as wheat and paddy in dozens of hectares of farmland stand partially submerged in water making harvesting an impossible task. Submerged fields also pose a risk to standing crops, said a local farmer. Besides, several other vegetables fields growing cucumber, bitter gourd and gram have been damaged by the heavy rains.
Due to incessant rains, paddy harvesting will be delayed by two months, said another farmer. This essentially means, the farmers of the area will not be able to grow three crops in a year. They will have to start sowing wheat after the harvesting of paddy is completed, he pointed out.
On the other hand, road communication between Gania – Badamula road to Ishwarpur remains disrupted after a concrete road and the guard walls were washed away in the recent floods.
These apart, local ponds are filled with contaminated flood water and the drinking water supply lines have been damaged in many places. This might pose a health risk in days to come.
PNN
