Nonmai Kulgam residents launch self-driven canal cleaning
Locals say vital irrigation stream had remained clogged for years, affecting agriculture across several villages
Jahangeer GanaieKulgam: Frustrated over what they termed as years of official inaction, residents of Nonmai village in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Sunday undertook a massive voluntary drive to clean an irrigation canal that serves several villages in the area.
According to locals, the canal—considered a lifeline for horticulture activities in villages including Nonmai, Mohamadpora, Jogipora, Turigam and adjoining areas—had remained clogged with silt, weeds and waste material for several years due to the alleged failure of the concerned department to carry out desilting and maintenance works.
Holding shovels, spades and other tools, dozens of villagers, including youth and elderly residents, assembled early in the morning and manually cleared the water channel to restore the smooth flow of water ahead of the peak agricultural season.
Residents said the canal plays a crucial role in irrigating orchards and vegetable land spread across multiple villages, and any disruption in water supply directly impacts farming activities and livelihoods.
“We waited for years hoping that the concerned department would clean and restore the canal, but nothing happened. Every year we approached officials and highlighted the issue, yet no concrete action was taken,” said a local resident from Nonmai.
Another villager said the condition of the canal had deteriorated badly, causing water flow to reduce significantly in recent years.
“This stream is the main source of irrigation for our fields. Farmers in several villages are dependent on it. If we had not cleaned it ourselves, our orchards would have suffered badly this season,” he said.
Locals said that due to accumulated mud, overgrown vegetation and blockages at several points, water was not reaching tail-end villages properly, leaving many farmers worried about irrigation during the sowing period.
A resident from Turigam said the people were left with no option but to take matters into their own hands.
“The authorities remained unmoved despite repeated requests. Today the entire community came together voluntarily because agriculture and horticulture is our livelihood and we cannot afford to wait anymore,” he said.
Villagers appreciated the collective spirit shown by the youth and residents during the drive, saying such unity reflects the importance of preserving common resources for the larger public good.
They, however, urged the Irrigation and Flood Control Department to take immediate notice of the issue and ensure regular maintenance of the canal in future so that people are not forced to carry out such works on their own repeatedly.
The residents also appealed to the administration to formulate a proper mechanism for periodic desilting and restoration of irrigation canals across rural areas of Kulgam, stating that many water channels in the district are facing similar neglect.
