Shopian, Aug 23: An entrepreneur running a fish farm in the Pudsoo area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district has suffered losses estimated at around ₹15 lakh after water supply to the canal serving the farm was stopped.
The farm owner, Altaf Ahmad Thoker, said approximately 6500 fish died following the sudden stoppage of water supply, leaving him with substantial financial losses.
Thoker alleged that the concerned Irrigation Department stopped the canal water supply without providing any prior information or notice. He said the abrupt disruption left him with no sufficient time to make alternative arrangements to maintain the required water supply for the fish.
“We suffered heavy losses because the water supply was stopped without any prior information. Had we been informed in advance, we could have made alternative arrangements to save the fish,” he said.
The affected entrepreneur said the loss had caused a major setback to his fish farming venture and appealed to the authorities to assess the damage and take appropriate action.
Residents and the affected family have also urged the concerned authorities to look into the matter and ascertain the circumstances under which the canal water supply was stopped without prior notice.
They have further demanded adequate compensation for the losses suffered by the fish farm owner.