Excelsior Correspondent
RS PURA, May 18: Taranjit Singh Tony, General Secretary of J&K Pradesh Congress Committee, undertook an extensive tour of the Ranbir Canal up to its tail end in RS Pura today and observed dire condition of the irrigation system in the paddy bowl.
During the tour, XEn Canal, Hafiz Ullah Rishi, AEE Vinod Mehra, AE Ishan Saini, JE Sunil Billoria, and JE Vishal Dogra accompanied the senior Congress leader.
Starting the tour from Baspur Bangla, Tony visited Kortana, Suchetgarh, Gharana, Chakroi, and the areas along the border, inspecting the entire stretch of the Ranbir Canal. He found that the desilting process has become a significant challenge, hampering the proper functioning of the irrigation system.
Expressing his concerns, Tony noted that despite assurances given by LG Sinha to restore the Ranbir Canal and its subsidiaries, no substantial progress has been visible on the ground. The bureaucracy does not seem to prioritize the directions given by LG Manoj Sinha, who had assured the farmers during inauguration of the Horticulture Nursery at Chakroi of restoring the canal on a war footing.
Tony highlighted the critical need for urgent repair and maintenance of the broken Mogas (pipes) in multiple locations along the canal. The farmers heavily depend on these mogas for irrigation, and the current state of disrepair is impacting their agricultural activities, he said.
Furthermore, Tony pointed out that most of the tubewell motors are out of order, and the tender process for their repair has taken place only recently, causing significant delays that should have been handled before the start of the paddy crops. This delay jeopardizes the availability of green fodder for domestic animals, which requires immediate irrigation, he observed.
Tony stressed the importance of fixing a timetable for the desilting of canals, which should be completed before April 15th, and maintaining a continuous process of desilting every year.
Tony urged the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and concerned authorities to prioritize the restoration and repair of the irrigation system in the Paddy Bowl of RS Pura.
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