PULWAMA — Thousands of kanals of paddy land in Pulwama district are on the verge of facing drought as farmers and officials said the water meant for downstream areas of Lar stream is diverted in Shopian by locals and youth for bathing.
Farmers and officials said the youth of Shopian in Tulihalan area in Nagbal, Shopian, divert water by opening the gate of Rambi Ara, which decreases the water level in Lar stream.
The unnecessary opening of the gate has created a drought-like situation in dozens of villages living downstream in Pulwama district.
The officials said some cusecs of water have also been diverted to other channels in Shopian for irrigating the horticulture land of the district.
Officials in the Agriculture Department said that the Rambi Ara stream in Shopian has an escape gate in Tulihalan area of Nagbal, which serves as an important regulator of water flow for Rambi Ara stream.
“Since the weather is hot, youth from Shopian open the gate on their own to reduce the water level of Rambi Ara at Tulihalan gate and bathe to kill the heat. This unnecessary opening of the gate creates a water shortage for the Lar stream,” said Bashir Ahmad, an engineer in the Agriculture department in Pulwama.
The official’s statement is corroborated by the fact that several local reporters and social media users flashed videos from Tulihalan where dozens of youth are bathing in the stream, and the gate is seen open in the background.
The engineer said some water is also diverted towards other local channels in Shopian for horticulture land but the “main reason is opening of regulator gate at Tulihalan,” he said.
Ahmad said the agriculture department has deputed supervisors for managing the gate, but a lack of night surveillance helps the youth to open the gate. “We need manpower from the Irrigation departments of Pulwama and Shopian for effective management of the gate at Tulihalan,” he said.
Executive Engineer Shopian, Abdul Rashid, said that the department has deputed some employees for the safety of the gate, but it needs more manpower from the Pulwama Irrigation Division. “I have taken up the matter with the colleagues in Pulwama Irrigation Division, seeking more manpower. And hopefully, we will resolve the issue sooner,” he said.
The locals have urged the deputy commissioners of both districts to intervene and help in resolving the water scarcity in Pulwama.
https://kashmirpulse.com/jk/kashmir/water-diversion-from-rambi-ara-creates-drought-like-situation-in-pulwama/112862.html
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