I&FC Dept Kashmir clarifies on
Water shortage in Kupwara areas & Irrigation water crisis in Lelhar,
Pulwama
SRINAGAR, JULY 27: The I&FC Department
Kashmir Saturday issued a detailed clarification and action taken on the news
item published by a local Urdu and English dailies on 25 July, 2024 regarding
Water shortage in Pahru, Maori, Lolab and Hyhama of Kupwara, besides irrigation
water crisis in Lelhara of Pulwama.
In this regard, the Irrigation and Flood
Control (I&FC) department has issued an official communiqué wherein it has
given detailed clarification and action being taken area wise.
As per the official handout, in regard to
Pohru and Mavri area, it is submitted that at present there are 15 Number of
Lift Irrigation Schemes on Pohru Nallah for providing irrigation water supply
to the fields of the area. These schemes have been affected due to abrupt fall
in water level in Pohru Nallah due to continuous dry spell, however the water
has been diverted at the required level at all locations by constructing cross
bunds near all intake points of Khuls and Lift Irrigation Schemes so as to mitigate
the problem of framers of the area.
Sometimes due to breakdown of machinery
the Lift Irrigation Schemes become non-functional for some days, but efforts
are made to restore the damaged machinery at the earliest. At present the
farmers of the area are provided irrigation water supply by way of above
mentioned remedial measures.
In regard to Lolab and Hyhama area it is
reported that most of the area is provided irrigation water supply through rain
water harvesting Storage Tanks, which are 54 in the area. At present due to
continuous dry spell 50 No. storage tanks have completely depleted and
currently only few feet dead storage is remaining in these Storage Tanks,
remaining 4 No. Storage Tanks are left with 20% water reserved.
Some areas of Lolab are provided
irrigation water supply through 5 No. Lift Irrigation Schemes which are
functional at present though water level has decreased in the nallah.
Hyhama area is being fed for irrigation
water supply with 2 No. Khuls namely Halimatpora Khul and Kripye Khul which are
functional at present, but not carrying sufficient discharge due to abrupt fall
in water level of the feeding nallahs. However, the department is trying to
maintain irrigation water supply through Warabandi.
Regarding the irrigation water crisis in
Lehar of Pulwama, it is being informed that this area is under the scope of LIS
Lelhar, which is at present non-functional due to abrupt fall in water level in
River Jhelum. Due to fall in water level the water is not coming in the sump
tank as a result of which the pumping machinery is non-functional at present.
The site conditions are not feasible to divert the river water into the sump.
However, the irrigation water supply is
being maintained from LIS Banderpora and LIS Hajibal on Warabandi basis at present,
which is not sufficient as per the demand of farmers.
The point of concern at present is the
tail portion of above mentioned area which is suffering due to non-functioning
of LIS Lelhar. The concerned technical as well as field staff has been directed
to ensure required measures for this area under all circumstances.