Himachal: Peach valley turns white first time in two decades

Shimla/Rajgarh, Jan 9 (UNI) Famous for production of high quality and sweet stone fruits, Rajgarh of Sirmaur district, also known as Peach Valley of Himachal Pradesh wore white covers of snow after a gap of two decades, Subdivision Magistrate Surendra Mohan informed on Sunday.

Snowfall from 10 to 15 cms was recorded in the areas of this subdivision including Habban, Bathaudhar, Banalidhar, Tharu, Deothhi Mazgaon, Matal Bakhog, Tali Bhujjal and Koti Padhog.
Due to heavy rain and snowfall this time there was a very pleasant weather in Rajgarh area and the farmers are pleased due to this.
SDM Rajgarh Surendra Mohan said on Sunday that till afternoon, power, water and communication system was running smoothly in Rajgarh.
He said that farmers and agriculture experts consider snowfall as white manure as it kills harmful germs and pathogens in the plants and the land which also reduces the need for the use of harmful pesticides in the crops.
He said that Snowfall not only helps in retaining the level of moisture in the soil but it helps in providing good health to the plants.
“If there would enough amount of chilling hours in the orchards, farmers don’t need to spend on pesticides and chemicals to have high yield or produce as it would give natural yield or crop with snowfall.” local farmers Vikas Bhardwaj said.
In the peach valley, snowfall has occurred only in the high altitude areas during last night and now it is snowing downstream.
Peach valley is also famous for production of high quality garlic as this area is attributed for highest garlic production in the Asia.
The good amount of rainfall also saved the input cost of farmers on irrigation and it helps to get high yield as harvest of garlic would be done after the Winter Session.
Rajgarh area supplies garlic chiefly to southern states of India as most of Garlic produces in various gram Panchayat of Rajgarh is supplied through local APMCs to states of Tamil Nadu, Maharshtra, Karnataka, Goa and Kerela.
SDM said that Snowfall on high reaches and intermittent prolonged rainfall also help to recharge water sources in the subdivision to supply regular Water during summer season after good spell.
Number of irrigation and water supply schemes get affected due to decreasing discharge of water in river and streams in the district Sirmaur likely to give respite for long time.
The vehicular movement continues as usual on all roads. The SDM said that necessary instructions have been given to all the officers that instructions have been given to maintain all types of arrangements related to their department so that there is no problem in conducting relief and rescue operations in case of any emergency.
Let us inform that in Rasumandar and Pajhota area, there used to be power cut every year during winters but after 33 KV sub-station in Sheelabagh, uninterrupted power supply is being available in about 15 panchayats of these areas.
Otherwise, due to blackout, the entire Rasumandar and Pajhota area was cut off from other areas from the point of view of communication.
Due to the absence of electricity for many days, people’s mobiles and other electrical appliances were switched off and people used to suffer due to lack of electricity.
Executive Engineer Electricity Rajgarh Narendra Thakur says that with the formation of 33 KV sub-station in Sheelabagh, where people are getting power supply normally, the employees of the Board have also breathed a sigh of relief, otherwise there will be light in these areas during winters.
Electricity lines were broken due to snowfall and strong wind, which took a long time to rebuild.
Similarly, vehicular movement remained normal on all roads falling under Rajgarh division due to rain and snowfall.
Executive Engineer Public Works Department Rajgarh Narendra Verma says that all the roads of Rajgarh division are open. Tight arrangements have been made in case the road is closed due to heavy rain or snowfall. Manpower and machinery have been kept ready with the department at all times.
Not only this, water supply is also normal in Rajgarh block.
Till now all the drinking water schemes are running smoothly due to rain or snowfall.
UNI ML RKM