Damaged in flashfloods, govt fails to pay Rs 10 cr for Shah Canal repair, farmers hit

The Congress government is yet to provide funds for the repair of the Shah Canal, the only irrigation project in the state, which was damaged during the monsoon last year. A portion of the canal along the Beas in Punjab was damaged due to flashfloods last year.

The Shah Canal brings in Himachal’s share of water from the Pong Dam to agricultural fields in Nurpur and Indora areas of Kangra district. However, water supply for irrigation purpose from the canal has been disrupted since August last year and the repair work is yet to start. Farmers are urging the government to release funds for the repair of the canal as soon as possible so that they can get irrigation water.

As many as 30 villages in Fatehpur and Nurpur of Kangra district are not getting irrigation water for the past one year following damage to the canal. Sources said about 10,000 farmers were not getting water to irrigate their fields.

The problems of the farmers were compounded due to inadequate rainfall in the region. Kulwant Singh, a farmer of Fatehpur, said that the wheat sowing period was starting but there had been no rain in October so far. “The canal water would have been of great help to us but it was damaged last year and was yet to be repaired. The government should immediately repair the canal so that the farmers of the region can get irrigation water,” he added.

Chief Engineer, Jal Shakti Department, Suresh Mahajan said that recently, about Rs 2.5 crore was received for the government for the repair of the canal. Tenders were being floated and the repair work would start soon, he added.

Mahajan said that an estimate of Rs 10 crore for the repair of the canal along the Beas had been sent to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA). Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri was taking up the matter with the SDMA and funds for the canal repair were expected to be released soon, he added.

Agnihotri had inspected the damaged portion of the canal in August this year and directed Jal Shakti Department officials to immediately start the work to repair it.

The sources said that the Jal Shakti Department officials had initially prepared an estimate of about Rs 25 crore for the repair of the canal but later reduced it to Rs 10 crore keeping in view the availability of funds from the state government. The farmers in the region also blame illegal mining for damage caused to the canal.