Pulwama’s Lelhara farmers confront irrigation water crisis

Pulwama, July 24: Farmers in Lelhara village, situated on the banks of the Jhelum River near Kakapora town in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, are grappling with a severe irrigation water crisis.
The residents informed Rising Kashmir that for the past 20 days, the paddy fields in the area have suffered from a significant shortage of water, putting the crops at risk.
Abdul Rahim Lone, an elderly resident of Lelhara, expressed his frustration over the inadequate irrigation scheme constructed by the irrigation department years ago.
“The scheme was meant to cater to our paddy fields, but it has always been insufficient,” he said.
He added that for the past three years, they have been facing water shortages during this critical phase of the paddy season, and despite assurances from officials, the situation remains dire.
The farmers have repeatedly pleaded with the irrigation department for immediate restoration of irrigation water.
“Our paddy crops are at a critical growth stage and need maximum water,” said another farmer, Abul Salam, adding that further delay could cause wilting and potentially destroy our crops.
The farmers said that the ongoing intense heat wave exacerbates the situation, raising fears of crop burning and death.
The farmers said that they pleaded before authorities for restoration of irrigation water to their paddy fields but they alleged that appeals to authorities of the irrigation department have been in vain.
In response to the crisis, Abdul Rahim Lone said the villagers have taken matters into their own hands, working to restore irrigation water themselves.
Executive Engineer Irrigation Division Pulwama, Nazir Ahmad, acknowledged the problem, attributing it to a drop in the water level of the Jhelum River.
“We are doing our best to restore irrigation water in the area,” he said, adding that a proposal for a permanent solution has been submitted to higher authorities as was demanded by the local farmers.