Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Aug 30: Ravi-Tawi Canal has been blocked due to heavy land slides while Kathua Canal has developed breach at two places due to massive rains recently.
About 200 mts area of Ravi Tawi canal has been covered with the land slides on Lakhanpur-Basantpur road while the Kathua canal has developed breaches at two-three places near Kardoh village in Lakhanpur area. While the land slides and blockade of Ravi canal took place on August 25, the breaches took place the next day.
A portion of ‘bund’ on one side has been washed due to heavy rain causing breach at several places. Due to this the water flow has been reduced to more than half in the canal. The flow of water into Ujh barrage has also been stopped due to land slides and blockade of the Ravi-Tawi canal.
Executive Engineer, RTIC Someshwar Mengi said that since maintenance of first 5 km of the canal is lying with the Punjab Irrigation authorities as per agreement, they were told about the landslides on the same day. They were also given a few reminders but as they were found reluctant to remove the ‘Malba’ from canal, today the J&K Irrigation department started work on the canal to clear debris/earth on nearly 200 mt portion of the canal.
Mr Mengi said within one week, the canal will be cleared and the maintenance work on second canal has also been started. He said every time this problem is faced by the J&K Irrigation authorities due to the attitude of the Punjab Irrigation authorities. They demand money before starting any restoration work on the canal which actually falls in J&K territory.
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