Awantipora, Jul 05 (KNO): Farmers of Hariparigam village, Awantipora in south Kashmir's Pulwama district are reeling under a severe irrigation crisis as their orchards, dependent on the Dadi Canal, are drying up due to non-availability of water.
Speaking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) locals said that despite being allocated water supply during the first four days of July as part of the irrigation department’s Warbandi (irrigation schedule), the residents say that they were unable to irrigate their orchards due to unavailability of water.
The villagers allege that residents of upstream areas have been using water pumps illegally on the Dadi Canal to irrigate their fields, leaving tail-end villages like Hariparigam high and dry.
"We were scheduled to receive water during the first four days of July according to the department's schedule, but nothing reached us. Powerful motors used by people in upstream villages have left us with parched fields," said Ghulam Nabi Wani, a local orchardist.
He added that the orchardists in Hariparigam are largely dependent on the Dadi Canal for irrigation, and with the current heatwave and prolonged dry spell, the absence of water has pushed their orchards to the brink of disaster.
"Over 70% of orchards in our area are rain-fed or canal-dependent. With this level of water theft, our trees are drying, leaves are falling prematurely, and fruit size is shrinking. We fear heavy losses this season," said Farooq Ahmad Dar, another orchardist from the village.
Locals accused the authorities of inaction despite repeated complaints.
"We have approached the irrigation officials multiple times, but no action has been taken against the violators. There should be a strict ban on illegal motor use and proper monitoring to ensure fair distribution of water," said Bilal Ahmad, a resident.
The residents have urged the higher authorities, particularly the Executive Engineer Irrigation Department Anantnag and the District Administration, to take strict action against violators and ensure that scheduled water reaches tail-end villages without hindrance.
"If immediate steps are not taken, our entire fruit crop will be lost. This is our only source of livelihood," said another resident.
Locals have demanded field-level monitoring teams and a ban on unauthorized motor pumps to ensure water reaches the end users—(KNO)