‘Kuhals’ give way to sprinklers, water pipes in Lahaul village

Dipender Manta

Mandi, July 17

To bolster agricultural practices and mitigate risks in the wake of increasing landslide subsidence at Lindur village in Lahaul and Spiti district, the Horticulture Department has decided to replace the obsolete ‘kuhals’ with modern-day pipes and sprinklers.

Amid concerns over irrigation infrastructure, the department has started distribution of water pipes and sprinklers to local farmers.

The decision comes in the wake of the widening cracks in the sinking areas at Lindur village, which highlighted vulnerabilities in the existing irrigation systems, particularly ‘kuhals’ (small canals of water) used for water distribution. By providing modern irrigation equipment, including pipes and sprinklers, the Horticulture Department aims to ensure more efficient water distribution, thereby safeguarding agricultural productivity and resilience against similar incidents in the future.

The local farmers have expressed optimism about the initiative, emphasising its potential not only to improve crop yield but also to ensure long-term agricultural viability in the region. Appreciating the efforts of the district administration Jagdish, Kamlesh and few other farmers of Lindur village stated that this step should have been taken much earlier.

“The initiative is crucial for supporting our farmers at Lindur village, especially following the subsidence incident. By upgrading irrigation methods with modern equipment, our aim is to enhance agricultural yield and promote sustainable farming practices,” stated Meenakshi Sharma, Deputy Director, Horticulture Department, Lahaul and Spiti.

She said that the water pipes and sprinklers were distributed to all 14 families in the village. It was a proactive step towards fortifying agricultural resilience in Lahaul and Spiti, underscoring the government’’s commitment to support rural communities and foster agricultural sustainability amid challenging environmental conditions, she added.

Farmers optimistic

The local farmers have expressed optimism about the initiative, emphasising its potential not only to improve crop yield but also ensuring long-term agricultural viability in the region