Babar Rather
Farmers in Ajas, Chinpazora, and Matipora areas of Ajas Tehsil in Bandipora staged a protest on Tuesday against the filling of the water canal of the Churthungoo Irrigation Scheme by a local farmer.
According to the aggrieved farmers, a female farmer cultivating land belonging to the Rakhs & Farms Department, allegedly blocked around 30 feet of the water canal overnight using JCBs.
The farmers told GNS that the water canal has been in operation for over 35 years, serving as a crucial source for dewatering for more than a thousand kanals of land.
They expressed concern that the blockage of the canal would negatively impact their crops and render their land unusable.
In their appeal to Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Dr. Owais Ahmed, the farmers urged intervention to resolve the issue and restore the water canal, preventing potential harm to the livelihoods of the local farming community.
The implicated female farmer while talking to GNS defended her actions, stating that she modified the canal’s route using JCBs to prevent her land from being divided.
She claimed to have received verbal permission from Rakhs & Farms employees present during the execution of the work.
Contrary to her assertion, Director Rakhs & Farms Kashmir, Madan Gopal Singh, told GNS that the department has not issued any permission to fill the water canal or alter its course.
Singh pledged to investigate the matter, promising strict action against anyone found guilty.
Additionally, Khursheed Ahmad, Assistant Executive Engineer, Civil, responsible for overseeing water canals, assured GNS that the water canal would be restored upon receipt of a written complaint from the farmers, with appropriate action to follow. (GNS)
