- Farmers heave sigh of relief
KUPWARA: A much needed project of restoration, renovation and desilting of major irrigation canals and minor khuls has been initiated under MGNREGA convergence by Rural Development department (RDD) and I&FC department, on the directions of the District Development Commissioner (DDC) Kupwara, Ayushi Sudan. Execution of this project has shown the signs of success with farmers having a sigh of relief as they now have access to adequate irrigation water for their paddy fields.
This project has not only benefited thousands of farmers, but has also generated 49427 days of employment and labour wages amounting to Rs.2.95 crores under MGNREGA till date, besides irrigation facility to more than 10000 hectares of land.
It is in place to mention here that massive floods, triggered by heavy rains from April 27 to April 30, 2024 had wrecked a havoc in most parts of Kupwara district by damaging the irrigation canals and other water bodies besides devastating the heads of these Khuls and filling them with silt, soil and plastic wastes. This had badly hampered the smooth flow of irrigation water to the paddy fields and posed a threat to the paddy sowing season in the district.
For the immediate restoration and desilting of damaged canals, the DDC Kupwara had convened a review cum situation analysis meeting at here in which she directed officers of RDD and I&FC to utilize MGNREGA convergence for renovation, restoration and construction of irrigation canals.
A comprehensive project ‘Har Khait ko Pani’ was formulated in consultation with I&FC department with the vision of restoration, renovating and desilting of irrigation canals and minor khuls across the district, which was approved by district administration within no time, keeping in view the urgency of paddy sowing season and uninterrupted irrigation water supply to the paddy fields.
This project was executed through the registered job card holders by RDD Kupwara in convergence with I&FC Kupwara under MGNREGA scheme. Around 300 canals ranging from minor khuls to major canals like Lal khul, Maidanpora khul, Dudwari khul, Shatmuqam khul, Head of Goos khul and Brundogger khul etc were restored, renovated and desilted, much to the relief of farmers, said Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD) Kupwara.
ACD said that this project has mitigated the problems of the farmers that arose post floods due to massive damage to irrigation canals, their heads and sources. He said that due to timely execution of this project irrigation water is now reaching paddy fields uninterrupted which will result in sustainable agricultural productivity, improving water use efficiency and enhancement in irrigation coverage in the district.