Amit Katoch
Jammu, Feb 28: It may sound strange but it is a fact that the Department of Irrigation & Flood Control has not initated the process of de-siltation of Ranbir Canal, the life line of farmers in large rural areas of Jammu region, not withstanding the fact that just one and half month has left for the re opening of the canal i.e. on the eve of Baisakhi.
“This canal is a gift of advance vision of Dogra Dynasty to Jammu province and it is also a source of livelihood for thousands of families in this Kandi belt but looking at its present condition created by both the concerned department and the people of surrounding areas it is getting converted into a drain now. The maintenance of this canal seems no priority for the concerned department. The process of de-silting is nothing but simply an eye wash and giving benefit to few blue eyed contractors/persons involved in it,” said Virinder Singh a regular visitor to a park adjacent to canal.
“The de-silting process is started every year at eleventh hour and the contractors involved do nothing but further create a mess of material. Everybody can see huge heaps of silt created by cranes at the centre of canal bed and then contractors wait for the release of water in canal to wash and clear these heaps. The moment heaps of silt come under the cover of water the next day contractors do get their bills cleared by the department which clearly create delusion over working process of de-siltation of Ranbir Canal. And this kind of vicious cycle is going on from the last many years without being paid any heed by the concerned department,” said a local resident who owns a shop in the area close to canal during Excelsior News coverage of Ranbir Canal.
When Excelsior News tried to contact Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control K K Magotra he simply refused to come on the camera saying he is not the competent authority to comment on the same. There are many questions which needed to be answered as this Ranbir Canal nurtures more than thirty eight thousand hectares land of kandi belt, so timely de-silting is must to increase the discharge capacity of the canal and providing water supply to every village at the tail end. De-silting is not an occasional affair but the annual and compulsory process which is known to all but still people look its working process with pretence and suspicion.
The Ranbir Canal originates from left bank of river Chenab and caters the irrigation water needs of farmer fields from Akhnoor to R S Pura. Ranbir Canal has the largest irrigation net work in the state of Jammu & Kashmir and is a life line to inhabitants of Jammu (partly) RS Pura,Bishnah and Samba. This 60 Km Ranbir canal is the main source of irrigation for this kandi belt and to maintain a smooth and laminar flow of the water to reach every tail end of village every year this Ranbir Canal is closed for few months during winter season for carrying out annual de-silting and renovation.But the slow and sad demise of this canal also raise questions about the role being played by the people of surrounding areas. The condition of this canal is worst than a drain. The people of surrounding areas can be seen dumping garbage and polythene into the making it more hazardous environmentally. We do have in our state J&K Water Resource and Management Act 2010 and Rules 2011 through which people throwing garbage into canals can be punished but a million dollar question over the issue is that how many people, parties or organizations have been booked or punished under this act by the concerned departments.
“It is not only the duty of Government to look at the cleanliness part but under social responsibility every individual should contribute to make this canal dirt and filth free. We should play a constructive role in PM Modis missions like ‘Clean India’ ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ and use the proper channels to trash the waste,” said a local resident .
The Ranbir canal for jammuites is a heritage and medium to run agricultural economy. So to protect and preserve these water bodies both Central and State Governments do claim of spending money like water but unfortunately the executive agencies are least bothered to preserve the glory of these water bodies as the real and dying faces of these water bodies raise many questions over the seriousness and working attitude of the concerned departments.
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