| Punjab violates agreement, deprives J&K of water supplies | | | G S Asgotra
Jammu, July 8: The Punjab government has been violating the decades old water sharing agreement with J&K over Kashmir canal.
As per the agreement, the Punjab government was to provide 400 cusecs water from river Ravi to J&K from Kashmir Canal which originates at Lakhanpur.
Though the canal is situated within limits of J&K, the first five-kilometer portion of the canal till Chakundar feeder, is under the control of Irrigation department of Punjab, which is also responsible for desilting of the canal.
"Due to control over the first five kilometers and the bund at Madhopur, from where water is released into the canal, the Punjab Irrigation department only provides 300 cusecs of water, which is 100 cusecs less," an engineer of Irrigation Department of Kathua (IDK) said.
"Dishonoring the agreement, the Irrigation department of Punjab has neither done desilting of Kashmir Canal nor releases the sufficient water into Kathua canal, as a result of which the village under Kathua canal faces drought-like situation," he said.
"Owing to adamant behavior of the Punjab government, the farmers have been compelled to cultivate maize crops rather than paddy," said the engineer.
He said that Punjab Irrigation department "ignored our repeated requests to release 400 cusecs water into Kathua canal."
"Due to shortage of water, the tail end villages have been deprived of facilities of irrigation in the peak season," he said.
Executive Engineer Vijay Gupta said, "I had apprised Deputy Commissioner Kathua regarding adamant attitude of the officials of Irrigation department Punjab, but to no avail."
Gupta said that very soon the issue would be discussed with Deputy Commissioner Pathankot. |
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