Pulwama: Even after elapsing around 15 years, a lift irrigation scheme at Awantipora hamlet in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district is awaiting completion.
Locals of Kawini village of Awantipora told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that after repeated requests, a scheme was approved for the area in 2008 and the work on it was also started but since then, the work has not been completed.
They said that around 60 per cent of work on the scheme has been completed but later it was put on halt around three years ago due to unknown reasons.
“We don’t have any irrigation facility available for our agricultural land due to which we are suffering in the summer season and have to rely on rain water only,” said Sameer Ahmad, a local resident.
He said after work on the scheme was started, people of the area were happy as they were expecting they won’t have to suffer for want of water now. “However, even after 15 years, the scheme seems nowhere near completion,” he said.
Locals said that due to unavailability of irrigation facilities, they are forced to resort to some other crops cultivation.
They said they brought the issue into the notice of concerned authorities several times but no positive step has been taken on the ground.
The residents appealed to government to resume work on the scheme and make it functional ahead of the paddy season—(KNO)
