Defunct irrigation pump halts plantation of paddy saplings in Anantnag
Efforts are on to make pump functional: Executive Engineer
Anantnag: The plantation of paddy saplings has been halted in the Bijbehara area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district as the irrigation lifting pump has been rendered defunct by the concerned department.
The move has left the farmers high and dry who accused the department of adopting lackadaisical approach in making the pump functional.
Locals from GB Khalil area in Sangam Bijbehara said the scheme was in working conditions but was lying defunct for the last many days due to low water level in Jhelum.
“The situation has left the farmers high and dry. The officials of the concerned department visited the spot to make it functional but all their efforts did not work at all,” a local resident said.
The residents said the paddy plantation season was on peak and whole land was dependent on this scheme. “But the defunct scheme has when it is defunct how can they plant paddy saplings,” said Subzar Ahmad, a local resident.
Paddy saplings are planted till June 21 and “just few days are left and if it won’t work for next few days, our whole land will turn barren.”
He said the officials were trying to restore the scheme but the low level of water is playing a spoilsport.
“Some people have already sewed paddy saplings but in absence of water, it has started drying up,” locals said, adding that both the mechanical and civil wing of the irrigation and flood control department are trying their level best to make the scheme functional, however, they are yet to achieve any success.
The residents requested the concerned authorities to look into the matter at an earliest and take immediate steps for the restoration of the scheme.
Meanwhile, executive engineer Irrigation division Mechanical Awantipora Er Gunjeet Singh said both mechanical and civil wing of the department were on job and were trying to restore this scheme as early as possible.
Jahangeer Ganaie
