Water scarcity leaves farmers fuming in Safapora Ganderbal

Srinagar: Angry over damaging of Lar irrigation canal, which caters around thousands of kanal as of agricultural land in Safapora and other adjacent villages in Central Kashmir Ganderbal district, the farmers of Safapora Ganderbal blame the Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) department for the damage done to the canal and seek intervention of the higher authorities for immediate repairs of the canal for smooth farming activities in the area.
Farmers assembled at Safapora Chowk Saturday morning and expressed their anger against irrigation and Flood Control department which they said blocked Lar canal irrigating over thousands kanals of land used by the farmers for agricultural activities.
They said despite directions from the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ganderbal to restore water supply to farms, I&FC department does not wake up from deep slumber.
The locals of the area said that paddy cultivation is main source of income for all inhabitants but are upset over the way the authorities have deliberately left this canal unrepaired during this season of rice saplings.
The locals also said that due to Scarcity of water every year, the residents of Asham has converted their paddy fields into orchard gardens. They urged the concerned authorities to take immediate steps for the restoration of water flow from Lar canal.
The locals also threatened street protests if their demand was not met. “If they (Government) fail to deliver this time, we will block the roads and protest at press colony Srinagar ,” they warned.