BUDGAM, JUNE 29 (KNS): With the start of farming season and amid Covid-19 pandemic, the Irrigation Department in District Budgam has taken number of measures to implement various farmer-oriented works to encourage the progressive farmers. The pro-farmer initiatives taken include de-silting of irrigation canals and massive anti-encroachment drive on water channels to provide better irrigation facilities to farmers across the district.
With the commencement of Rabi season, the farmers community who depend mainly on annual agriculture produce for a sustained source of income, expect the Government to facilitate them with all logistical requirements needed to provide irrigation facilities to farmers in the district.
“The Irrigation department geared up its resources and made all efforts to support the farmers despite facing many challenges during the covid-19 lockdown. The department particularly took up labour oriented works and managed to make available workforce who were reluctant to work due to strict restrictions and pandemic,” said Executive Engineer Irrigation Division Budgam, Javaid Ahmad Sofi.”
He said that resuming works would not have been possible without the timely intervention and support of District Administration as it provided movement passes for the labour class and also permission to move required material and machinery to the sites of work.
“Keeping in view commencement of farming season, emphasis was given to clear silt from the irrigation canals, remove illegal encroachments on water channels to ensure smooth flow of water in irrigation canals. Among the works executed, a 110 meter long mild steel flume was built on Nassu Khul at Hassu Beerwah on priority to provide irrigation facilities to 9 adjacent villages. Moreover, couple of wooden flumes were built on war footing in record time of 3 days on Lani Khul at Khansahab”, Ex En Irrigation said.
Giving details the Executive Engineer said that many other works and projects have either been completed or shall be completed soon. He said that under PMKSY, 11 different schemes at different locations across the district are in progress, which include construction of Arzan Garzan storage dam at Char-i-Sharief, construction of concrete cement escape channel of Malla Khul at Beerwah, construction of RCC lining wall at Attina Khul at Beerwah, construction of concrete lining wall for Poshker Khul at Beerwah, construction of retaining wall of Hamdaniya Colony at Bemina, construction of concrete lining wall at Hamchi pora in Beerwah, construction of crate work at Gogal Dara Beerwah, construction of cement concrete lined channel at Gund Wash Beerwah etc. It was revealed that these schemes will be completed at an estimated cost of Rs. 25.28 crore.
“With completion of all these schemes, we will be able to cover 9287 hectares of land under the command area while 6695 hectares of land has already been completely brought under this scheme,” Ex En said. In addition, some schemes including one languishing project is likely to be completed within 2 to 3 months. Completion of these schemes will enable the department to provide irrigation facilities to 506 hectares of un-irrigated land in the district, he added.
Executive Engineer said that the department has re-doubled its efforts to accelerate the pace of works on the schemes/projects running under NABARD and if situation remains conducive, the department will ensure timely completion of all these projects.
Regarding illegal encroachments, the officer asserted that the department is committed to remove all encroachments wherever these exist to ensure free flow of water in irrigation canals in the district. “We are highly thankful to District Administration for providing support including police protection in getting encroachments on irrigation canals removed. The department is fully committed to work for welfare of the farming community and to provide irrigation facilities to the fields where it has not reached yet”, the officer pledged. (KNS)