NC lawmaker seeks Rs 120 cr financial assistance
Srinagar, Mar 19: National Conference lawmaker Dr Bashir Veeri on Wednesday urged the government to allocate substantial financial assistance for the up-gradation of two major irrigation canals—Dadi and Nadi—in South Kashmir.
Spanning over 29 Kilometers, Dadi Canal is a crucial source of irrigation for agriculture and horticulture in Bijbehara and parts of Tral. Along with six other canals, it spans a cumulative length of 110 kilometers and irrigates approximately 9,000 hectares of land.
However, over the years, its carrying capacity has dwindled from 850 cusecs to 450 cusecs due to silt accumulation and structural degradation. “The government has earmarked only Rs 8 lakh for desilting these canals in Bijbehara. However, to restore their full carrying capacity, we require at least Rs 2 crore,” Veeri told the Assembly.
He further demanded a financial package of Rs 120 crore similar to the one provided in Punjab to fully harness the irrigation potential of these canals. “The focus should also be on stabilizing the existing command areas and extending irrigation to un-served villages, particularly the upper reaches of the Dadi Canal,” NC MLA said.
Veeri proposed the installation of at least five lift irrigation schemes or, at a minimum, five drought pumps to achieve this goal. Similarly, he said the Nadi Canal, a key irrigation source for the Home-Shalibug belt of Bijbehara, and Kulgam—considered the rice bowl of Kashmir also requires urgent attention.
“This canal must also be incorporated into similar reform and renovation efforts,” Veeri said. He said the financial support from the government was necessary to enhance the region’s irrigation infrastructure, which could help mitigate water scarcity and improve both horticultural and agricultural productivity.
“The irrigation infrastructure in the Srigufwara-Bijbehara Assembly constituency is in a dire state. Without immediate intervention, including the concretization of canals, the challenges posed by climate change in the coming years will only worsen,” Veeri warned.
