Assam: Bajali farmers urge authorities to restore drainage as waterlogging leaves 100 bighas uncultivated

Farmers in Assam's Bajali district have urged the authorities to restore a blocked drainage channel and remove alleged encroachments after waterlogging left nearly 100 bighas of agricultural land uncultivated this season.
 

The affected land is located at Dolo Pathar, the only agricultural field in Baghmara Adarsha Gaon, where farmers said they have been unable to carry out cultivation due to the accumulation of rainwater.
 

According to villagers, water from the field is meant to drain through a hume pipe culvert beneath National Highway 127(A). However, the drainage channel has allegedly been encroached upon by nearby residents, who have also constructed permanent boundary walls on government land. They said the drain has become clogged with soil and debris, preventing the natural flow of water.
 

As a result, the farmland has remained waterlogged, forcing farmers to leave nearly 100 bighas of cultivable land fallow during the current agricultural season.
 

Residents said they have submitted memoranda to the MLA of Bajali constituency and the National Highways Sub-Divisional Office in Bajali, seeking immediate intervention.
 

They urged the authorities to clear the blocked drainage channel, remove the alleged encroachments and restore the free flow of water so that cultivation can resume.
 

The villagers said timely action was essential to prevent further losses to farmers and safeguard agricultural activities in the area.