Lahaul | July 23:
The Opposition has accused the Himachal Pradesh government, the district administration and local MLA Anuradha Rana of failing to help farmers in Lahaul, claiming that many growers have been forced to throw their vegetable crops into the river due to the lack of road connectivity.
In a press statement, the Opposition said farmers are facing heavy losses for the second year in a row after natural disasters damaged infrastructure in the region. It alleged that the government and administration failed to learn from last year’s crisis and did not make proper arrangements to protect farmers’ interests.
According to the statement, the collapse of the Jahalma bridge nearly two months ago has made it extremely difficult for farmers to transport vegetables and other cash crops to markets. As a result, many farmers have been unable to sell their produce and are suffering major financial losses.
The Opposition said the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is carrying out restoration work, but alleged that the local MLA and the administration have not shown enough urgency in solving the problem.
It further claimed that officials had announced the construction of a temporary bridge and even moved construction material to the site. However, the work has not started because the required No Objection Certificate (NOC) has not been issued.
The Opposition questioned why the government has failed to obtain the necessary clearance despite being in power. It also asked whether MLA Anuradha Rana had raised the issue with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu or other senior ministers and sought compensation for affected farmers.
The statement said farmers already face losses due to heavy rain, floods, drought and other natural disasters. It alleged that government inaction has made the situation worse, leaving many farmers with no option but to dump their crops instead of selling them.
The report is based on allegations made by the Opposition in a press statement. The response of the state government, district administration and MLA Anuradha Rana was not available at the time of filing this report.
