The farmers are bearing the brunt of things with the Tehri dam coming up amidst fierce controversy, as they are scared of sowing cash crops in Chamba-Mussoorie fruit belt in apprehension of wild animals swopping to feast on them.
They said the menace of wild animals straying in the villages and eating fruits and cash crops in the area turned serious after the enormous dam came up. Having lost their habitats, they have no other option but to satisfy their hunger through such crops and fruits, they said.
This is what is scaring them away from sowing them, one of the aggrieved fruit and cash crop growers said, adding that the wild beasts are not even sparing the bark of the trees. If steps are not taken promptly things might turn worse and the identity of the fruit belt would become part of history.
The famous Chamba-Mussoorie fruit belt in Chamba has been reeling under the shadow of animal onslaught for years. Several species of beasts, particularly, monkeys, boars and langoors are on the rampage.
The fruit belt which once proved a boon for the farmers is now turning into a bane for around 1,200 farmers. Farmers Ram Chandra Singh and Vipin Ramola said that they earlier used to sow 15 bags of potato seeds. But now, they are scared to even sow two bags of potatoes. “The animals destroy the saplings of any fresh crop sown,” Ram Chandra said.