Srinagar, Jun 18 (KNO): In a significant relief to distressed farmers of south Kashmir, restoration work on the breached Awantipora canal has begun, with officials expecting completion by the upcoming weekend.
The breach, which occurred late Monday night, had caused a major disruption in irrigation supply to hundreds of kanals of agricultural land in Anantnag and Pulwama districts, just as farmers were preparing for the crucial paddy transplantation season.
Officials from the Irrigation and Flood Control Department told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that continuous efforts are being made on war-footing to restore the damaged 50-metre stretch of the canal.
“Our teams have mobilised machinery and manpower to carry out round-the-clock repair. If weather permits, we are hopeful to restore the flow by Saturday or Sunday,” said an official overseeing the work.
Farmers, while still anxious, have expressed cautious optimism. “We had almost given up hope, but seeing the work progressing has brought some relief,” said Ghulam Nabi Dar, a farmer from Hari village. “We request the department to make sure water is restored before June 21, which is the last suitable date for paddy transplantation.”
The breach had also damaged a vital stretch of the High Diversion Road constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), affecting inter-village connectivity and forcing locals to take longer and more treacherous routes.
“We have already prepared our fields and seedlings are ready,” said Bashir Ahmad Dar, another farmer from Awantipora. “But there is no water. We are helplessly watching the dry land while every day counts in this critical season.”
“If the restoration is not completed in the next few days, we will miss the transplanting period. That means a huge loss for our families. We can’t afford to wait beyond June 21," he added.
The farmers said they want a permanent solution. Regular desilting and strengthening of embankments should be part of routine maintenance, Dar said.
An official supervising the work told KNO: “We are fully aware of the significance of this canal and its impact on agriculture in the region. Our teams are working round-the-clock and we expect the restoration to be completed by the weekend."
We will ensure that water reaches the affected fields before the transplantation window closes, the official assured.
Meanwhile, Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Bijbehara-Srigufwara, Dr Bashir Ahmad Veeri, accompanied by Vice Chairman District Development Council (DDC) Pulwama, Mukhtar Ahmad Bandh, visited the affected site and demanded a thorough investigation.
During the visit, MLA Veeri expressed deep concern over the scale of damage and alleged administrative negligence. He called for urgent action to identify and hold accountable those responsible for executing substandard work.
“Somehow, we have to fix the responsibility. We cannot let this pass without identifying the officials who issued permissions for soil extraction and those who executed the faulty work,” the MLA said. “The people have suffered losses and their paddy fields have been left without irrigation at a crucial time. The matter must be taken seriously."
Veeri added, “There should be a detailed investigation into how this happened. The canal breach and road collapse point to poor execution and possible misuse of permissions. Those responsible must be booked under relevant laws."
The Awantipora canal, which plays a vital role in irrigating hundreds of kanals of agricultural land across Anantnag and Pulwama districts, recently suffered a major breach, disrupting irrigation supply and damaging the adjacent PMGSY road.
Both Veeri and Bandh stressed the need for long-term preventive measures and transparent monitoring of developmental works in the region to avoid such incidents in the future. They assured the local population that the matter would be raised with higher authorities, and justice would be sought for the affected farmers—(KNO)