Kangra MLA comes to rescue of farmers, helps repair 12 kulhs

The BJP MLA from Kangra Assembly constituency, Pawan Kajal, has come to the rescue of farmers, who have been facing shortage of water for irrigating their fields due to the ongoing dry season and lack of rains in the region, for the last two months.

Kajal has helped in restoring at least 12 kulhs (small irrigation canals) with funds from his own pocket. Dependence of farmers on kulhs has increased as there has been no rain in the region this year.

Sources say Kajal has kept a register at his office in which farmers could register their complaints regarding shortage of irrigation water and other issues faced by them. The MLA, who owns a JCB machine, uses it to help farmers restore irrigation canals. Kajal helped in restoring 12 big kulhs originating from Manuni and Manjhi rivers which were damaged due to floods during the rainy season last year.

Ravi Kumar, a farmer of the Matour area, said, “We usually approach the MLA instead of government officials in case of any problem. Without waiting for the government financial aid, he helped us restore kulhs with his own JCB machine and funds.”

When contacted, Kajal said, “The Jal Shakti Department has no funds for repairing kulhs that got damaged during the monsoons. Whenever, farmers approach me, I personally accompany them with my JCB machine and help them repair kulhs. Besides, with the help of locals, we manage to get other common facilities repaired at our own level.”

The Jal Shakti Department had sought Rs 60 crore from the state government to repair kulhs and Shah Canal in Kangra district. The amount is yet to be released by the government.