Effective mechanism being evolved to augment irrigational facilities: Sham * Directs for drive against encroachments along canal

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 12: Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma, has said that Government has initiated several innovative measures to augment the discharge capacity of main canals so that water reaches up to the tail end.
“An effective mechanism has been evolved to ensure strict enforcement of State Irrigation Act for better maintenance of canals”, the Minister maintained.
Speaking at a one-day farmers’ meet organized by the J&K Kissan Council at Maralian in R.S.Pura, here today, the Minister said that Government is committed to upgrade the existing irrigational infrastructure to boost the agriculture production in the State. He said that agriculture is lifeline of the State’s economy where more than 85 percent population is directly or indirectly engaged with this important sector.
He said all 205 irrigation tube-wells, other main sources of irrigation, will be made fully functional at the earliest. He instructed the concerned officers to formulate a comprehensive plan for their fully revival so that the objective of these sources is achieved in letter and spirit.
To further improve the irrigational facilities, the Minister directed the officers of Flood Control Department to identify the areas for developing check dams for augmenting the irrigation facilities and recharge the water table in the uncovered areas. He stressed the need for judicious use of irrigational water so that all stakeholders can take benefit of the available resources.
He sought support of Sarpanchs and Panchs in this regard and asked them to sensitize the masses about the usages of drinking and irrigational waters and proper upkeep of canals. He directed the officers to keep close liaison with the Panchayat functionaries while taking important decisions so that the benefits of schemes percolate on ground, the Minister asserted.
MLA R.S.Pura, Prof. Gharu Ram Bhagat also addressed the gathering and stressed for complete overhauling of Ranbir Canal. He requested the Minister for developing some Lift Irrigation Schemes in the potential areas to improve the irrigational facilities in R.S.Pura tehsil.
The Sarpanchs, Panchs and farmers suggested several measures to further improve the irrigational facilities. They vehemently supported for strict enforcement of Irrigation Act to save and conserve the canals and tributaries. They demanded that the schedule of cleanliness of canals and tributaries should be revised and entire development works need to be completed in the middle of March every year and water should be released in March itself to save the crops. They also demanded review of existing rates of water royalty being charged from the farmers.
Chairman, J&K Kissan Council and Member J&K Kissan Advisory Board, Rajesh Sharma (Bittoo) conducted the proceedings of the programme. He also suggested several measures to improve the present irrigation set up and rationalization of water for all areas.
Among others present were Chief Engineer, PHE, Ashwani Sharma, Chief Engineer, RTIC, V.K. Badyal, Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control, K.K.Gupta, SDM, R.S.Pura, Suraj Parkash Rakwal, Members of J&K Kissan Advisory Board, President J&K Floriculture Association, S. Tajinder Singh and sectoral officers of various department.