Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 19: Alleged official apathy and Government’s failure to drain excessive water from Dal Lake have rendered huge losses to the vegetable growers as a majority of the gardens are inundated for two weeks and water level continues to be above normal in areas located on or in the midst of Dal Lake.
The locals of Mir Behri said since last two weeks, their agriculture land is inundated which has rendered huge losses to the vegetable production. “We are facing extreme waterlogging since last two weeks after incessant rains and heavy snowfall puts valley on the brink of another flood. Two weeks have passed but our vegetable gardens are still inundated thereby denting the vegetable produce badly. The production of Nadru (lotus-stem) is under the threat of annihilation” said Imran Hussain, a local, said.
The locals said they are facing extreme hardships, as they are unable to complete their daily chores and blamed authorities for the ‘misery’. “The authorities deliberately keep the water level above normal so that it can conceal the weeds. They only befool people. By doing this they try to appease houseboat and hotel owners and in return take money from them or take leisure of their services,” Firdous Ahmad Chenga, a vegetable grower, said.