SRINAGAR: The inhabitants of Chadoora and adjoining villages today staged a protest against the laying of pipeline from the Doodhganga that would be then supply water for Old Airport and adjoining areas. The protestors claimed that such a scheme will cause acute water shortage and drought, particularly during the peak irrigation season. The scheme of construction and fixing of 24 inch pipeline in undertaken by Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) to supply water to some uptown areas including Old Airport.
The protestors said that they had already approached many concerned officials and written them but no action was taken till Economic Reconstruction Agency started constructing a tributary out of already drought Doodhganga canal. Protestors demolished the pipeline and demanded immediate closure of the scheme which they termed ‘illegal construction’.
“If they will construct this tributary from Doodhganga, there will be no water available for us to irrigate our lands. We already have shortage of water and this scheme will cause more drought in our lands,” Anjan Bilal, a social activist from Chadoora said. Anjan Bilal said that they had approached and written to every concerned official including District Commissioner and Tehsildar but they seem paying no heed. “Doodhganga is already flowing low, what purpose will this new scheme of ERA serve?”
The protests were held in Rangar, Katheir, Kanira, Mahnoor, Sogam and Zoohama villages where traffic was blocked and shops remained closed. Abdul Rahman, a local farmer, during the protests said that previous year he had to face lot of hardship during irrigation of his land. “Now with this illegal construction of pipeline, my land will become barren. We request the concerned officials to take necessary steps to stop this project,” Rahman said.
President of Nambardar Association in District Budgam, Abdul Rashid Malla, says that in past also, attempts were made to take a tributary from Doodhganga to some villages which was severely opposed by the villagers adjoining Chadoora. During that episode, a survey revealed that Doodhganga canal had much lower water capacity than required by the villages residing along it.
Abdul Rashid Malla says that over these years the water level has lessened more and the locals face water shortage often. “With this new attempt of creating a tributary out of it, people here will have to be dependent on water tanks and their lands will be left barren,” he said. Sajad Hussain, a social activist from Chadoora, said that the officials have been agreeing with our demands when we meet them in their offices, but on ground they do nothing. “All they do is paperwork and nothing constructive and helpful. They know how drastic this project of creating a tributary out Doodhganga canal is, yet they are keeping silent,” Sajad Hussain said.
The locals said that during spring the water level is relatively good but as summer approaches the water level decreases and in autumn the canal goes almost dry. In such a situation, the locals claimed, this pipeline would mean to put the lives of locals on peril and inviting drought.