Non-fenced power canal in Kangan turning into death trap

Kangan, Apr 6: The non-fenced water canal of the Upper Sindh Hydro Power Project (USHP) Sumbal, in tehsil Gund of Kangan Ganderbal district has become a death trap and is posing a grave threat to the lives of thousands of people and property here.

According to the locals the water canal feeding the USHP Stage I Sumbal is passing through several areas from Kullan to Ganiwan without any fencing or protection walls thus putting the entire population in these areas under threat. "There have been several incidents where locals lose their lives and other property including livestock," the locals told Greater Kashmir. They said that several times the canal breached resulting into flood like situation in which several residential houses were damaged besides hundreds of kanals of cultivated land turn into barren.

Locals alleged that Power Development Corporation ( PDC) is  playing with the lives of the people by not fencing and covering the power canal despite witnessing several such incidents in past. “No one has ever bothered to think about fencing these canal banks to avoid and stop any such untowatd incidents. Early repair to the damaged and broken canal banks and their fencing have become necessary to avert any untoward incident," Zain Ul Abdin a member of the Civil Society Gund said. He said that in the past a number of  bodies have been retrieved from these power canals and most of them were found to be the accidental cases.

For  last two days the body of a youth from Haknar Gund area who allegedly drowned in the power canal was retrieved. "Many human lives have been lost till now either some one allegedly jumped into the canal to commit  suicide or some other accidentally slipped. Atleast two bodies have been retrieved from the power canal near Haknar Gund. In many cases these incidents could have been averted if there was any safety barriers like fencing," Riyaz Ahmad a local resident said. Locals further said that if the concerned department had taken the pleas of people seriously and had properly fenced and covered the canal, the loses  could have been minimised. “We are living in a constant danger since the establishment of the canal. The area has witnessed only loss during these incidents," Mohammad Ayoub a local resident said. "We are having sleepless nights if there is a slight rainfall as the canal is prone to landslides that can lead to its blockade resulting into its breach" he said.

Sources said that the 10 kms long power canal of USHP-I and 23 kms long power canal of USHP-II when established during 70s were having guard quarters with watchers and flash street lights installed as a safety measure. However for last more than two decades now neither any of the watcher is seen nor any of the lights can be seen installed along the canals making it a death a trap. The Civil Society tehsil Gund has urged the administration to take necessary measures for fencing the critical spots so that such untoward incidents are avoided.