Budgam, Nov 5: A five-kilometre-long Batwodder canal in central Kashmir’s Budgam which was damaged in 2014 has been repaired and restored after eight years by the district’s Irrigation Division. The canal which starts from the Yousmarg Doodh Ganga was damaged by flash floods and cloudburst.
Executive Engineer of Irrigation Division Budgam, Anbreen Anjum told Rising Kashmir that Batwodder waterway is one of the “historic” canals in the district. “The wooden flume has been made and other repairs were completed. The canal was restored after having been rendered defunct for the last eight years,” she said.
Anjum said the canal will provide water supply to the agricultural lands of three villages which include Surasyar, Bonen and Batwodder. “Farmers of these areas were growing maize and pulses only due to the shortage of water in the canal. Now, they will start normal agricultural activities in their fields as the water has been restored in the canal,” she said.
The Executive Engineer said that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) has also been sent to higher authorities for the permanent renovation of the canal. “We are waiting for its approval,” she said.
Chief Agriculture Officer Budgam, Syed Tafazal Hussain Madni said the Director Agriculture Kashmir and the agricultural officers of the district visited and inspected the area twice last year and highlighted the issue with the district administration and the concerned nodal department.
“Our rigorous perusal of the matter with the higher quarters helped in the restoration of the Batwodder Irrigation Canal. This is a big achievement as it will greatly benefit the farmers of the area,” he said.
“Farmers will now be able to grow more crops on their fields, especially paddy and vegetables,” Madni said, adding, “Crop productivity and production & quality will also improve a lot and so will cropping intensity. This will ultimately lead to the increase in farmers’ income.”
