GS Asgotra
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Apr 15: Sukhnandan Kumar had been raising farmers' issues vociferously in and out of the Legislative Assembly, but after he became minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC), he has miserably failed to properly de-silt the canals, hence adding to the farmers' woes.
With the release of water in the canals few days ago, nearly Rs. 2.3 crore was drained from the exchequer and all the irregularities committed in the name of de-silting have been covered.
When sitting in the opposition benches, Kumar had continuously highlighting the problems faced by the farmer community of Jammu and improper de-silting of canals was one such main issue of the farmers.
"But after getting ministerial berth in the coalition government, though he gave assurance to the farmers, the assurances were not translated into action and half de-silted canals are now filled with water," sources told Early Times.
They said the slackness of the I&FC department could be gauged from the fact that two months ago a shopkeeper of New Basti area had dumped the debris of shop, sand and other garbage in the bed of canal but the department did not take action against the violator, and at the same time, without de-silting the garbage, water was released.
"Ultimately the farmers will suffer and if work of de-silting will not be not done properly, the tail end villages of boarder areas will be deprived of water during peak summer season," the sources said.
A farmer of R S Pura, Manjeet Singh said that despite Water Act 2010 in force, which authorizes the I&FC department to take action against anyone found throwing garbage in canal, nothing has been done and lower rung employees have been turning blind eye towards those polluting canals.
"If anyone complained against the violators, the complaints gathered dust in the cupboards of the department and not a single violator was challaned in the court of law," said the sources that even the dumped material was not removed.
Superintending Engineer of I&FC department said the water was only released in the main canal from Akhnoor to Canal Road. "The de-silting is on and we have got time till April 25," he said. |
