With temperature soaring orchards in Shopian villages go dry
Shopian: Due to continuous dry spell, the water level in most of the canals and water bodies is receding making it impossible for orchardists to irrigate their orchards in various parts of Shopian district.
Locals from different areas of Shopian district including Babapora, Zainapora, Awneera and its adjacent areas said that water level in famous Babapora canal is decreasesing day by day due to which they are unable to irrigate the orchards.
“Since there is no rainfall from the past many weeks now the orchards have been left dependent on water from these irrigation canals. But so far we have not been able to water our orchards raising concerns that they may have to end up facing a drought like situation,” Mohammad Saleem, a grower said.
He said that during this part of the season the fruit trees need abundant water supply so that the fruit turns juicy and grows in full size.
“Our orchards are totally dependent on this canal for irrigation purposes and there are no other facilities available to irrigate our orchards,” said another local, Tawseef Ahmad.
“Most of the time, there remains no water available in the canal due to which we are facing many problems,” he said.
Locals requested authorities to look into the matter and make arrangements so that water will remain available in the canal in abundance so that the orchards can be irrigated on time.
Notably, the horticulture sector has already been hit hard by clampdown after August 05, early snowfall, Covid-19 lockdown, early scab infection, hailstorm and other natural calamities.
“This is our last chance and if we won’t be able to irrigate our orchards in coming days, our orchards on which our livelihood depends may dry up resulting in huge loses for us,” added Tawseef.
Executive Engineer Irrigation Division Shopian, Fareed Hussain Reshie admitted that water levels have receded in various canals and water bodies.
“The water level is receding day by day due to which locals are facing problems. We are aware of it and a team headed by AEE Irrigation Department will be deputed to those areas where there is acute shortage of water,” he said.
The official assured that every possible step will be taken so that locals can irrigate their orchards.
Jahangeer Ganaie
