Suhail Rather
Bandipora, 16 June :The locals of Gamroo, Gundpora and its adjacent villages of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district have expressed resentment against authorities for failing to clear the irrigation canal which have been choked by encroachments and turned into garbage dump for the locals as the local officers conveniently allow this illegal act.
Locals complained that Revenue Department has stopped to check the actual position of canal which according to documents is 10 feet and now shrunk to 2 feets due to which the canal are dry and locals are throwing all garbage and other dirt into the canal.
They said even if water flows through the shrunk Kul, orchardists upstream divert the water to orchards leaving paddy fields dry. They said officials conveniently allow this act.
The chocking of the canal has taken heavy toll on the farmers as the paddy fields are scare of water worrying the farmers this season. “We have been facing a lot of problems with no intervention from concerned authorities. It was right time for authorities to clear the garbage and other issues, besides allowing water to its actual position to the canal,” locals said.
They said at least the irrigation department should immediately clear the irrigation kul in the village and revenue officers should stop further damage to the irrigation canal.
“This month when farmers need water for paddy cultivation, the same is denied to the farmers due to inefficiency of the officers concerned, , said a local. “Banks of the canals have been encroached at many places, he added, while demanding strict action against encroachers.
Furthermore locals demanded that rather than diverting the source water, authorities must clean these canals, so that locals won’t face any problem in coming season. “We brought this issue in notice of concerned department and other concerned authorities last year also but they haven’t taken the matter seriously.
Locals of Gamroo complained that last year they submitted detailed memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Bandipora and he directed us to contact concerned Tehsildar, and last year concerned Tehsildar assured action against illegal encroachers, from till date we are moving from pillar to post for justice. Locals request concerned tehsildar to visit once in area to demarkate the irrigation kul so that we can feel sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, locals demanded personal intervention of Deputy Commissioner Bandipora in this regard.
