Water discharge into Kangra kuhls reduces due to 43-day dry spell

The 43-day-long dry spell has hit irrigation in the Kangra valley. Sources say that the discharge into natural kuhls that are used for irrigation by farmers has reduced by about 20 per cent. To add to it, many kuhls were damaged during the monsoon last year. The Irrigation Department had demanded about Rs 60 crore for the repair of kuhls in Kangra district last year but was yet to receive the money.

There are about 350 kuhls in Kangra district which source water from natural streams in the region for supply to the fields of farmers. The sources say that over 100 kuhls in the district are still damaged and as a result farmers are not able to irrigate their fields.

RM Sharma, a farmer from Dharamsala region, says that the kuhl in their area was damaged last year but was yet to be repaired. “We have been requesting the Jal Shakti Department to repair the kuhl so that we can get water for our fields. Water is necessary for wheat farmers to irrigate their fields. The long dry spell has added to our problems,” he said.

Chief Engineer Jal Shakti Department at Dharamsala, Suresh Mahajan, says that there has been reduction in the discharge of water into various kuhls in the district by 15 per cent to 20 per cent due to the prolonged dry spell. He admits that many damaged kuhls in the district are still to repaired and the department is awaiting funds from the government to repair them.

Besides, the Shah Canal that sources water from the Pong Dam and irrigates about 10,000 acres in Fatehpur and Nurpur areas of Kangra district has also not been repaired. The Jal Shakti Department had demanded Rs 10 crore from the government for the repair of the Shah Canal to restore water supply to the fields of farmers. The sources say that the Jal Shakti Department had sent a proposal to the State Disaster Management Authority for the release of money but is yet to receive funds.

The Chief Engineer says that the government is yet to release funds for the repair of the Shah Canal. The sources say that the farmers in Kangra generally sow wheat by November 15. This year, due to long dry spell lasting for about 40 days, the farmers have not been able to grow wheat crop so far.

Successive governments had talked of developing irrigation systems for farmers. However, till date, 80 per cent farmers in Kangra are dependent on rainwater to irrigate their fields. There are several streams in the Kangra valley and the Beas passes through the district but irrigation systems are yet to be developed to tap natural resources for providing the irrigation facility to the farmers.