Stretches of Ranbir canal taken up for cleaning
Tribune News Service
Jammu, March 27
The Irrigation and Flood Control Department has started another ‘half-hearted’ plan to desilt 60-km Ranbir Canal, which flows through Jammu and irrigates thousands acres of farm land.
Like the previous years, only a few portions have been taken up for cleaning. The 114-year-old canal, constructed by erstwhile Dogra rulers, is considered the lifeline of farmers, especially Basmati growers, but continues to be neglected as the annual desilting and maintenance work is not carried out on time.
Nearly Rs 4 crore is needed for maintenance of the canal but required funds are not sanctioned as there is no separate funding approved for the water body. Also, poor civic sense among the residents is pushing the canal towards destruction.
“The cleaning process has been started at some portions of the main canal but its branches go without any maintenance for years. This has reduced the flow and it is more like a sewer in interior areas,” Randeep Singh, a farmer in Gol Gujral area, said.
The canal draws water from Chenab in Akhnoor and the water is normally released on Baisakhi festival on April 13.
“When the water is released, it brings with it plastic and other waste material. It all gets dumped in fields, polluting the soil. Desilting of the canal should be carried out properly,” said Balwinder Singh, a farm activist.
