Jahangeer Ganaie
Shopian, Jun 9: The residents of Zainapora belt in south Kashmir’s Shopian on Wednesday staged a protest outside the irrigation office against the department for cutting off the supply of the vital canal.
Scores of farmers assembled outside the office of Assistant Executive Officer department of irrigation at Babapora Zainapora Wednesday and alleged that the vital canal has turned dry in the area, due to which they are unable to water their orchards amid the scorching heat.
The protesting farmers said that their orchards have started drying up as they are unable to water them in absence of water.
They said that the irrigation department starts cleaning up the canals in a season which they should have done in odd months when the canal remains of no use especially from October to March.
“Canal is without a single drop of water from last several days and people of the area have to go for kilometres to fetch water for spraying pesticides,” a local Tawseef Ahmad said.
Tawseef said that thousands of kanals of orchards are dependent on this canal for water purposes and cutting off supply water in peak summer the season is an immature decision that can badly affect orchards.
The protest was called off after officials assured protestors supply will be restored within 24 hours as the department was clearing silt from the canal so that there remains good flow of water.
