STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Jal Shakti Department, Shaleen Kabra, on Saturday conducted an extensive tour to review the progress of the annual desilting works being carried out on the Ranbir Canal and Tawi Canal. During the visit, the Financial Commissioner inspected various stretches of both the Canals including distribution network and syphons. The inspection was conducted ahead of the scheduled recharging of the canals by the Minister Jal Shakti Department, Javed Ahmed Rana, with the objective of ensuring that irrigation water reaches tail-end areas during the forthcoming irrigation season.
The Financial Commissioner was accompanied by the Chief Engineer, Jal Shakti (I&FC) Department Jammu, the Superintending Engineer, Hydraulic Circle Jammu and other officers of the Jal Shakti Department, Jammu. While reviewing the works, the Financial Commissioner expressed displeasure over the dumping of garbage and the inflow of untreated sewage directly into the canals. He issued directions to formulate projects for intercepting the drains to ensure clean water flows through canals. Annual desilting of the canal network is a mandatory and planned maintenance intervention aimed at restoring the canal system to its original design capacity to ensure water reaches the tail ends. The exercise involves removal of accumulated silt, weeds and other obstructions from the canal bed and banks to ensure smooth flow of water. The desilting works are being undertaken during the canal closure period in January-March when irrigation demand is at its lowest. Carrying out these activities during this window ensures minimal disruption to agricultural operations while simultaneously preparing the irrigation infrastructure for the upcoming crop cycle. For the past consecutive three years, the Irrigation and Flood Control Department has been completing desilting works within two months instead of the earlier three months schedule. Consequently, the canal is now being recharged in the 2nd week of March instead of 13th April as per the previous practice. The Financial Commissioner directed the officers to maintain close supervision of the works, adherence to quality standards and timelines to ensure its recharging on the scheduled time so that the irrigation network functions efficiently providing benefits to the farmers across the command areas.
