Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 25: A man seeking Government job has allegedly hampered the functioning of newly constructed lift irrigation scheme that came up at the cost of Rs 2.5 crore in Wasoora village of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Locals of Wasoora village told Excelsior that the construction of the scheme was started in 2004 after they donated 6 kanals of land for it. “The land was donated by 15 people of the village. We didn’t ask Government for any compensation that time because we were aware that the scheme would benefit us in longer run,” they added.
“Now the construction of the scheme has been completed but it is not being made functional. A local of the village is seeking Government job and in between we are suffering. We don’t have any objection with his demands but why are we being made to suffer?” said Farooq Ahmad Malik, who is Sarpanch of Wasoora village.
He claimed that the man, who is objecting to the functioning of the scheme, has political backing. “He is linked with a particular political party and is hampering the functioning of the scheme,” he said.
The local Sarpanch said the scheme was tested on August 10 this year and it functioned smoothly. He said the scheme, if made functional, would irrigate 2500 kanals of the land. “In hope of the scheme, we axed our almond trees and planted apple trees but to no avail. We are struggling in terms of revenue as our apple trees have dried down,” he said. They appealed Government to either make the scheme functional or shut it forever.
Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, Neeraj Kumar admitted that the scheme is defunct at this moment but said that they have sorted out the job issue with a local. I have told the Public Health Engineering Department to engage him as daily wager somewhere,” he added.
He said finally the scheme was started in October but there were some issues of pipes and electricity. “Now, hopefully we will re-start the lift irrigation canal scheme at Wasoora from April next year as the issue has been sorted out,” he said.
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