Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Oct 26: In the uplands of Pulwama district in South Kashmir, two dams at Karpora and Tujan are lying abandoned for last three decades owing to Government’s failure to resume the construction work.
The project has been crying for attention for decades but its completion has remained in abeyance. The locals alleged that the project was started only to siphon off money from the public exchequer and was left out soon after the money was withdrawn for the work done. “Everyone might have taken their share otherwise how would a project like this evade the eye of authorities,” a local said.
While explaining the importance of the project, the locals said with an aim to irrigate the Karewa lands of several villages including Rahmo, Parigam, Newa and Wahibug, the construction work was started some three decades ago, but the project turned out to be a big failure.
“Over the years the absence of proper irrigation facilities for which it was constructed, the crop production has dwindled. The dams would have been proved beneficial during the droughts,” Ashiq Ahmad, a local said, adding that for last three years, different departments have conducted surveys several times but to no avail.
The locals also said the land that was acquired by the Government for the project has been encroached upon and the farmers, who have already been compensated, have turned the site into dense orchards. “All machinery and raw material were looted by vested interests in nexus with some employees who were guarding the site,” said Rehman, another resident of Rahmo village.
He, however, added that almost 90 percent of the construction work on the dam was completed in the early 90s but the rest of the work was never completed as the authorities abandoned the project after the outbreak of militancy in Kashmir. “I think it was the only project which was abandoned. We, however, have made several representations to the concerned Government to resume the work but hollow promises are what we receive,” he said.
The locals said the unwillingness on the part of the Government to complete the projects initiated by their predecessors was the main reason behind the abandonment of the project. “The concerned Minister used the funds of the project for the other projects as he built another dam in the area and left it untouched. They do it to claim the credit for the work which can serve their political motives,” he said.
The locals, however, said that they have sent representations to Finance Minister and MLA of the constituency, Haseeb Drabu, and he had assured them that he would take up the matter soon but till date nothing had been done.
An official at Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) Department, when contacted, said the dams were built for the augmentation of the PHE supplies in the area and were under their domain. “It was meant for PHE and comes under their domain,” G M Ganie, the official said. When contacted, a PHE official said that the Government had prepared the project report in 2012 and the project was going to be completed at the cost of Rs. 1100 crores but the Centre was yet to approve it.
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