Marh’s natural spring water going waste

Vikram Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 5

The Marh constituency here has natural water springs which fulfil the water needs of the area.

However, since there are no check dams or barrages to harvest it, the water flows out in shape of small rivulets and brooks as waste into the Tawi River.

The Akalpur-Rathua nullah originates from Bhagwati Nagar and passes through the constituency. It then enters Kukkriyan near Makwal before entering into Pakistan through the Tawi.

The spring erupts in a Jammu constituency, where the potential farming yield can produce outstanding results, and the natural spring water in the area do not fall under any kind of water treaties and hence are free for use.

“If this water is used judiciously for irrigation purposes, 75 per cent of the farming problems could be solved,” said former PHE and Irrigation Minister Chaudhary Sukhnanadan, whose home constituency is Marh.

“There is need to make only a little effort through small barrages (bandhs) erected at two or three places for storage and diversion of water for irrigation purpose. Since the water does not fall under any sort of water treaty of the state, it goes waste into Pakistan through the border,” said Sukhnandan.

Same is the fate of Jhiri nullah which flows from Karloop after making a couple of serpentine twists through the constituency and merges into the Tawi at Kukkriyan.

Smaller rivulets and brooks that emerge from different places, such as Baba Potu, Chuhane-e- Chak and Sandwan Suhagini, also converge at Kukkriyan near Makwal and move into Pakistan.

While in winters the water level remains quite low, in summers the springs are seen blooming to their full and rivulets and brooks flowing out take a good amount of the water which could be stored for irrigation as well as drinking purposes.

PHE Chief Engineer Sushil Aima dismissed the query saying that it pertained to the Irrigation Department.

Meanwhile, Irrigation Chief Engineer RK Gandotra said, “Marh is capable of meeting its irrigation needs as the water table in the area is quite alive and sufficiently suffices for irrigation and potable purposes.”

He, however, said plans for check dams or barrages being erected in these area to save the water going waste was a concern of the Rural Development Department.

“Since they are natural water springs, the important factor for their preservation lies in maintaining their feeding zones which could be some permeable rocks or an underground source which is formed by the accumulation of the rain water,” said Anil Raina, head of Environment Studies Department at University of Jammu.

Farmers of Marh said the constituency presents a very significant home ground for all kinds of produces, from vegetable to fruits and staple crop throughout the year. It can suffice the human consumption of the state in a bigger way if water is stored and utilised properly.