15 years on, lift irrigation scheme in Pulwama village awaits completion
Pulwama: Even after a lapse of around 15 years after the proposal was finalised, a lift irrigation scheme in Awantipora hamlet in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district is awaiting completion.
Locals from Kawini village in Awantipora area said that after repeated deliberations, a lift irrigation scheme was approved for the area in year 2008 and soon work on the said scheme was started.
“Bt since then over a decade has passed but the people are yet to hear any good news in this regard,” a local resident complained.
He said that around 60 percent of work on the scheme has been completely but work has been put on halt for the past three years due to unknown reasons.
“We don’t have any irrigation facilities available for our agriculture land due to which we are suffering in summer season and have to rely on rain water only,” said Sameer Ahmad, another local resident.
He said that after work on the scheme started, people of the area were very happy as they were expecting that they won’t have to suffer for want of water for irrigational purposes.
However, even after more than a decade has passed the scheme seems nowhere near completion, he said.
Locals said that due to unavailability of irrigation facilities, they are forced to resort to sow crops that need less water for irrigation.
“Due to unavailability of irrigation facilities, we are unable to sow paddy and whosever sows it’s has to see low and impure yield,” Sameer added.
Despite bringing this issue into the notice of concerned authorities several times no positive step is being taken on ground, he said.
The locals have now requested the government to resume work on the scheme and make it functional before the upcoming paddy plantation season.
Jahangeer Ganaie
