The failure of the government to regularly repair and desilt canals in different areas of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district has left these canals almost defunct due to which farmers and fruit growers are very much worried.
Residents of different areas of Anantnag said that as important canals were not cleaned this year, due to which there is no water available for paddy fields and orchards.
They said that there is no alternative facilities like ground water or water pumps available for the land due to which our fields and orchards are drying up.
According to farmers, a majority distributaries have not been cleaned for years which has hindered the flow of water and lack and lack of cleaning bas also affected the carrying capacity of the canals.
Sharif Hussian, a resident of Bijbehara said that that famous Mehand Canal which is a source of water for over a dozen villages wasn’t cleaned as of now this year due to which paddy fields and orchards are drying up.
He said that there is no alternative facility available for us due to while whole population is very much worried
Locals said that we have brought this issue in notice of concerned authorities several times but to no avail.
They requested District Magistrate Anantnag and concerned authorities to look into the matter at an earliest so that we can have a sigh of relief.
When contacted assistant executive engineer irrigation division Bijbehara, he said that we have cleaned all canals wherever there was need.
“If locals are facing any problems anywhere, they must contact us, we will take care of it,” he said.
