Road widening, construction work on flyover at Sangrama causes extensive damage to irrigation infrastructure

Baramulla, May 27: Thousands of acres of paddy land in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district are at risk of turning barren due to damage to irrigation infrastructure during the ongoing road widening and flyover construction at Sangrama Sopore.

The panic-stricken farmers, facing the critical stage of rice seedling growth, are seeking an end to the crisis, however, the Department of Irrigation and Flood Control has been unable to release irrigation water, causing immense frustration and mental trauma among the farmers.

The worst affected areas are Delina, Sangrama, Seer and its adjacent villages. The farmers of these villages are running from pillar to post to get their issue resolved. The situation has left farmers frustrated as grown seedlings if not irrigated will get ruined.

“There is no irrigation water,” said Muhammad Muzaffar of Delina. “It is a crucial stage for the rice seedlings. If the situation continues like this for a few days more it will be a catastrophe for thousands of farmers,” added Muhammad Muzaffar.

The damage to the overhead and surface distribution system of the irrigation department occurred during the road widening and the under construction flyover at Sangrama.

The executing agency of the road widening and the flyover has so far done nothing to rebuild the damaged infrastructure with the result thousands of farmers are left high and dry.

Fayaz Ahmad a farmer from Sangrama said that he has met all the administrative officials of Baramulla district for the resolution of the problem, however, there has been no forward movement in this direction with the result it is complete devastation for farmers.

“Rice crop cultivation is a means of our survival,” said Fayaz. “It is the failure of the administration that a vast number of paddy fields have been debarred from receiving irrigation water facilities,” added Fayaz.

Muhammad Ramzan, a farmer from Batpora Delina said that the Wagoora-Delina irrigation water canal too has been defunct.

Sources said that it was mandatory for the executing agency of road widening and flyover to rebuild the damaged infrastructure, however, their delayed tactics has led to the crisis.

When contacted Executive Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control Division Sopore, Nissar Ahmad while acknowledging the damage to the infrastructure due to the road widening and the flyover construction at Sangrama said that the lift irrigation scheme which was damaged has been restored now and irrigation water will be released to the affected areas. He however added that the Wagoora-Delina irrigation canal will take some time in its complete restoration.

“We have restored the damaged lift irrigation scheme and water to the affected areas will be released by Monday evening,” said Nissar Ahmad.