SRINAGAR: The Jal Shakti Department Kashmir Monday rebutted the news item published by a local Urdu daily on 03 June 2024 regarding the scarcity of Irrigation supplies at some places in District Ganderbal and Sumbal.
The said local Urdu daily had published a news item with the headline “Scarcity of irrigation Water in many villages of Bandipora and Ganderbal, paddy fields have dried up, locals blame authorities for not cleaning irrigation canals”.
In this regard, the Jal Shakti department has issued an official communiqué that provides detailed clarification area-wise.
As per the official handout, regarding irrigation water scarcity in Dangerpora, Tulmullah of District Ganderbal it has been given out that the CCA of the said area is irrigated from Maryab Canal through Tulmullah Dangerpora. The usual practice is that the land at the head portion is irrigated first and that the tail portion is irrigated only once the irrigation requirement of the head portion is complete. However, this season the zamindars at both head and tail started cultivation simultaneously resulting in insufficient water at the tail portion of the canal.
However, the matter has been sorted and the necessary irrigation demand as required at the tail portion has been met through warabandi.
Similarly, regarding irrigation water scarcity in Gund Nesbal in District Ganderbal, the CCA of the said area is dependent on Ahansar Lake Gund, Nesbal where water is supplied through gravity channels. The said channel was maintained by the zamindars by themselves till date.
However, this year due to the temperature rise and lack of rain, the water level in the Ahansar Lake decreased resulting in slight water scarcity in the said area. The issue is being resolved by lifting water from Ahansar Lake through Mechanical means by installing a diesel pump to meet the water deficiency in the said area.
Also, in connection with Bachpora B/O Padshahi Canal at Ahmad Nagar regarding the growth of weed at the said Spot (District Ganderbal), it has been given out that in the said area, the entire command has been urbanised and irrigation channels are now being used as drains by the residents which has resulted in excessive weed growth. As a temporary relief, the weed is being cleared.
However, for permanent resolution of the grievance, the maintenance of the drains is to be carried out by City Drainage, ULB and SMC.
Regarding Bahaman irrigation water scarcity (District Ganderbal), after visiting the site, Ex. Engineer IFC Ganderbal has reported that there is no such problem of water scarcity as far as irrigation is concerned in the said area.
In connection with Sumbal, Markanda area irrigation water scarcity (District Bandipora), the irrigation facilities in the said area are being provided through Lift Schemes dependent on power supply. Due to frequent power cuts, irrigation facilities get disrupted.
The issue has been taken up with KPDCL for an uninterrupted power supply.
