Amritsar's Ajnala Drain Floods Fields, Wiping Out Crop Diversification Efforts

Farmers in Amritsar's Ajnala sector are reeling from substantial financial losses after heavy downpours and an overflowing drain inundated their fields. The Ajnala drain, which flows through a dozen villages downstream, has submerged vegetable and paddy crops, including alternative cash crops like bottle gourd, summer squash, bitter gourd, ridge gourd, and pumpkin.

Agriculture experts point to structural failures along the drain belt as the primary cause of recurring flooding. Farmer leader Rattan Singh Randhawa notes that farmers themselves bear partial responsibility for weakening the drain embankments by creating temporary tractor crossings, making the banks highly susceptible to breaches during heavy rains.

Narinderpal Singh, district extension specialist at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (PAU), Amritsar, emphasizes that basic desilting alone will not resolve the issue. He explains that illegal encroachments and unplanned development along the drain have severely choked the natural water flow, forcing overflow into neighboring fields.

Farmers are frustrated with the lack of official aid, pointing out that while the government encourages crop diversification, it provides no safety net when disaster strikes. Local growers like Satnam Singh of Chak Aul lament that they tried to break away from the traditional paddy-wheat cycle by cultivating vegetables, but whenever such crops suffer losses, the government does not extend any support.