Onset of Baisakhi; Canals yet to be cleaned up

photo by Sansar Singh



Irrigation Department apathetic
PS BALI
Jammu, Apr 5
What could be more apathetic on the part of Irrigation Department that the canals, which are thrown open with the onset of Baisakhi every year, are yet to be touched for de-silting and cleaning.
Contradicting tall claims of the Irrigation Department of performing their duty with devotion and integrity, most of the canals in the Jammu are craving for attention of the Irrigation Department.
With the continuous negligence of the Irrigation Department, the canals are turning into dumping site.
Regretting over the working of the Irrigation Department, the local residents rued that just a few days are left for Baisakhi, no work of clearance on this canals yet has been initiated.
“Every year, these canals are being cleaned and de-silted properly before throwing water into it, but this time the situation is not same as 5-6 days are left, but no work has been initiated,” said Atul Malhotra, a resident of Resham Ghar.
He lamented that with such attitude of the concerned authorities, it seems that this time the water will be released without cleaning of the canals, thus making water of no use for the agriculture and other purpose, as would be filled with dirt.
However, official sources claimed that the process of cleaning of canal is under progress at some areas, but due to apathy of the concerned authorities, there is no supervision from the higher officials. Moreover the residents maintained that the working agency is just mowing weeds from sides of the canal and the actual waste is not properly removed.
“Though the work over canal has been initiated, but the concerned authorities are only mowing weeds and picking some waste from the sides of the
canal, which is sheer wastage of money,” maintained Balbir Singh, a resident of Sehora.
He regretted that the government is spending huge money for cleaning and hygienic purposes, but the lethargic approach of the departments causes suffering and inconvenience to the people.
“JCBs are installed for the clearance, but the problem is that the department lacks sufficient manpower, and those at work are lethargic to understand their responsibility,” said an official in Irrigation Department, wishing anonymity. He added that normally every year canal cleaning process is complete before Baisakhi, but this time the situation seems different.
Denying the allegations, Chief Engineer, Irrigation Department, Avinash Sharma said that the machinery is being put onto work and within a day or two canals would be cleaned up.
“We are already done with the process of de-silting, but at some places where the road widening project is undergoing, we are waiting for signal from PWD,” he said, adding that although the working is complete, but due to the lack of civic sense, we are facing huge quantity of polythene thrown by people to be removed, which would otherwise be washed away with the flow of water.
Admitting that the Department lacks sufficient manpower, Chief Engineer said that they are dependent on Service Selection Board (SSB) for the recruitment of permanent employee. He further claimed that some distributaries are under jurisdiction of Ravi-Tawi Irrigation Complex and they are responsible for their clearance.