Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 6: Taranjit Singh Tony, Chairman Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Jammu and Kashmir for Administrative Engagement and Minority Affairs, and District Development Council (DDC) Member, Suchetgarh expressed disappointment over the failure of Irrigation Department in de-silting the canals at Zero Line, Suchetgarh Border.
Addressing a gathering after starting development work in the area, the senior AAP leader criticized the officers sitting at the helm of affairs despite knowing that the Ranbir canal is the only source of farmers for irrigating their fields, no desilting work was carried out in the canals at Zero Line. He said that hundreds of farmers in the border belt are feeling dejected as none is coming for their rescue due to water not yet reaching the tail-end of the canal while the tube wells have become defunct due to plummeting of ground water level.
The DDC member said that the callous attitude adopted by the Irrigation Department is forcing the farmers to face hardships especially during the sowing season when the requirement of the water is at peak. He appealed to the Chief Engineer to look into the matter and pass on necessary directions to the authorities concerned to clean the Ranbir canal at tail end failing which the farmers have no other option to come on roads to highlight their woes.
Earlier, Tony started development work of bridge and blacktopping of road from Gharani to Nawa Pind Post on Zero Line in Suchetgarh constituency. He said the blacktopping of the road work was a long pending demand of the people of this area which has been finally fulfilled and it also reflects the failure of the successive regimes in the former State of J&K and thereafter in addressing the vital issues of the border people.
Pertinent to mention that during the election campaign, Tony had promised the people of village Gharani for connectivity of roads which has been fulfilled today.