Beighpora Pulwama residents rue water shortage for irrigational purposes
Pulwama: The residents of Beighpora area of Awantipora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district have been suffering due to the irrigation water crisis in the area.
The residents of the area said the lift irrigation scheme in the area often remains defunct due to which people are left suffering for water needed for irrigational purposes.
They said that their paddy crop is at risk due to unavailability of proper irrigation facilities in the area.
They said that the irrigation department has constructed a scheme in the area a few years back but it often remains defunct and fails to cater to the whole area.
Nazir Ahmad, a local resident said that for the past several years they have been facing water shortage during critical phases of paddy cultivation.
He said that for the past five years they have been repeatedly asking authorities to take cognizance of the issue but nothing is being done.
Aijaz Ahmad, another local said that this is a critical phase of paddy and it needs maximum water, but due to unavailability of water the crop is at the risk of a burn out.
He said that the scheme often remains defunct and now due to low water level in the Jhelum, the scheme fails to operate.
He said that if the situation continues to remain the same, their whole crop on which they are dependent will get destroyed and they will face losses.
The farmers said that at least five villages including Beighpora, Tokuna, Ghat, Reshipora and Gulzar Pora have been suffering due to unavailability of proper irrigation facilities in the area.
They said that in the last five years, they have met concerned authorities several times but no steps are being taken in this regard.
“We are being assured every time that steps will be taken but on the ground nothing is being done,” they said.
They requested LG Manoj Sinha, Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood control and other officials to look into the matter immediately so that they won’t suffer anymore.
