Major economic loss to farmers
VIVEK SHARMA
JAMMU: As the Irrigation and Public Works departments failed to take timely preventive measures after STATE TIMES exclusively reported on August 14, 2022 about likely breach, the entire R S Pura sector has been deprived off the irrigation facilities as duct of the canal channel has completely washed away on Wednesday near village Dharp adjoining Miran Sahib area.
STATE TIMES had sounded alert on August 14, reporting, “Upstream protection of bridge over Billol nallah near village Dharp, adjoining Miranshahib area, constructed by Public Works Department (PWD), washed away completely during the last spell of rains, thus exposing duct of the irrigation channel. In next rainfall, this duct will be fully washed away, affecting irrigation in the entire command area. Right side abutment of the bridge is also exposed. This bridge, constructed by PWD, was commissioned only three months back.”
And now this morning the duct of the irrigation has completely washed away depriving the villagers from MiranSahib to Dabler area in R S Pura sector of irrigation water. This is a major economic loss to the entire belt.
The villagers, while talking to STATE TIMES said, “without irrigation facilities we will have to face major losses.” Who will come to repair this canal in the shortest way possible? Villagers lamented, adding that the engineers who made technical blunders must be booked for lapses.
The entire agricultural land will be deprived off the irrigation facilities and this will affect our economy, said another villager, adding, “We demand an independent probe into the construction of the canal channel.”