Farmers to be encouraged to sow alternative crops to prevent depletion of groundwater level
PNS | RUDRAPUR
Expressing concern at the depleting groundwater level in Udham Singh Nagar, district magistrate Nitin Singh Bhadauria said that paddy will not be grown in the summer without permission. Chairing a meeting with officials, he directed all the sub divisional magistrates to tour the rural areas along with officials of the Agriculture department, Rural Development department and Lekpals. They should raise awareness among farmers on alternatives to paddy in the summer and also encourage them to plant such crops instead. The district magistsrate said that paddy should not be sown in the summer by any farmer without permission.
During the meeting he also directed all the sub divisional magistrates and Tehsildars to tour their respective areas and ensure action against those sowing paddy without permission. He further said that in the case of applications received from farmers for sowing paddy, their fields should be surveyed before granting the permission. Bhadauria said that the cultivation of paddy in the summer is depleting the groundwater level. Considering this and the negative impact on the environment, other crops like maize, sugarcane and horticultural crops should be encouraged as alternatives to paddy in the summer. All the sub divisional magistrates and block development officers should tour their respective areas. They should hold talks with the farmers and horticulturists while also raising awareness on the negative effects of cultivating summer paddy, the district magistrate said.
