J&K Govt not informed prior to decision
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, May 26: With suddenly shutting down of Madhopur Headworks falling in neighboring Pathankot district for 10 days by Water Resources Department of Punjab Government for restoration works from May 24 to June 2, the supply of water to two irrigation canals of J&K UT which are the lifeline of farmers in twin districts of Kathua and Samba has been completely stopped.
The sudden decision on the part of Punjab Water resources Department without taking their J&K counterparts into confidence has generated a lot of resentment among the farming community in the twin districts who are busy in sowing the Kharif crop including paddy which needs water for irrigation from very first day.
The Punjab Government Water Resources Department Chandigarh through a notification under Rule 63 framed under the Northern India Canal and Drainage Act 1837 notified that Madhopur Headworks will remain closed from May 24 to June 2 for a period of 10 days to under take the repair works of gates of Madhopur Headworks.
The Water Resources Department of Punjab had intimated all the concerned including Commissioner Indus Commission Ministry of Water Resources Government of India as well as Chief Engineer, Water Resources, Hanumangarh Junction, Rajasthan but not the riparian UT of J&K whose two canals-Kathua Canal and Ravi Canal are getting water from Madhopur Headworks.
According to sources the decision on the part of Punjab Government has also put the Irrigation and Ravi Tawi departments of J&K UT into trouble as the employees of the Department are facing the wrath of farmers as both Kathua as well as Ravi Canals have turned dry for last three days after the Punjab Government started the restoration of Madhopur Headworks. The farmers dependent on irrigation water for sowing the paddy crop and summer vegetables cultivated in the vast belt of twin districts have gone dry, sources added.
Sources said before going ahead with the decision of starting the restoration works of Headworks for 10 days the Punjab Government was supposed to inform its counterparts in J&K as the two canals supplying water to thousands hectares of irrigation land in J&K have turned dry when the Kharif season has started and sowing of paddy crop is on peak which is totally dependent on irrigation water.
The farmers, while expressing their ire against the unilateral decision of Punjab Government said that last year their Kharif crop was also destroyed due to heavy rains and hailstorm in the Jammu belt in the month of November -December and they also fear worst this time again with the sudden stoppage of water at a time when the farmers have started the sowing of paddy crop and other summer vegetables.
Farmers asked why the Punjab Government did not initiate the renovation work of the Madhopur Headworks in the beginning of April when there was no need of irrigation water which is the harvesting period of Rabi crop. They said the restoration work of irrigation canals and headworks is held from ending December to middle of April every year. But what compelled the Punjab Government to go for the restoration work this time when the sowing season is on peak and paddy seedlings have also grown in the fields at various places which are dependent on irrigation water for their survival.
When contacted, Executive Engineer, Irrigation Division, Kathua Braham Jyoti said that water was stopped suddenly in the two canals of J&K being fed by the Madhopur Headworks including Ravi Tawi and Kathua Canal. He said the paddy sowing has started in the Kathua belt and the farmers worries have naturally increased as the water supply needed for the crop has been hampered.
He said that his Department was not informed by the Water Resources Department of Punjab Government of the decision which they were supposed to before start of restoration work.
Executive Engineer, Ravi Tawi Division, Kathua, Sudesh Kumar also said that his Department higher ups were not informed by the Punjab Government as the water for irrigation to paddy crop is needed at this juncture by farmers. He said the Ravi Canal feeds the irrigation land in both Kathua and Samba districts up to Vijaypur and naturally stopping of water in the canal has worried the farmers in this entire belt.
He said “we get 200 cusecs of water for Ravi Canal from Basantpur and 100 cusecs from Lakhanpur while the Kathua Canal which is maintained by Irrigation Department of J&K gets 200 cusecs of water. This way J&K will not get 500 cusecs of water for 10 days,” he added.
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