SUCHETGARH, JULY 16: Taranjit Singh Tony, Chairman of AAP J&K for Administrative Engagement and Minority Affairs and DDC Member Suchetgarh urged the Lt Governor to rescue farmers from the worsening situation faced by them in the dying paddy bowl. With the scarcity of water plaguing the tail end of border villages, Tony urged immediate intervention to rescue the farming community from this dire predicament.
In a statement issued here today, the senior AAP leader said that lack of a reliable water source at the zero line of the border villages has created a severe crisis. The D-17 canal, which should have reached the tail end at Sae Devigarh Bullachak by now, remains incomplete. Astonishingly, the entire Irrigation Department appears to be in a state of dormancy, showing no urgency in addressing this pressing issue, he said.
Tony highlighted the distressing fact that over 50 tube-wells in the border villages are out of order, awaiting minor repairs that remain pending. “Furthermore, the lift irrigation system, which should be a lifeline for farmers, is completely dysfunctional. Despite repeated pleas to the engineers, including the Chief Engineer of the Irrigation Department, all requests have fallen on deaf ears,” he said.
In a direct appeal to the Lt Governor, Tony sought immediate action, requesting him to direct the concerned authorities to visit the affected areas promptly. Expressing disappointment, he emphasized that the XEn (Executive Engineers), including the Chief Engineer, have confined themselves to the comfort of their air-conditioned offices, ignoring the distressing reality faced by farmers in the field.
“Adding to the farmers’ plight, prolonged power cuts have further exacerbated the situation. With their pump sets rendered inoperative due to power shortages, farmers are unable to access any means of irrigation water, be it through canals, lift irrigation, or tubewells,” he said.
Tony warned the administration, cautioning them about the dire consequences if farmers are driven to the point of desperation, even contemplating suicide due to the unavailability of irrigation water. The gravity of the situation demands immediate attention and urgent measures to prevent such an unfortunate outcome, he added.
The AAP leader appealed to the Lt Governor to prioritize the well-being of farmers and take swift action by directing the concerned officials to address this crisis. He said that the survival of the paddy bowl and the livelihoods of countless farmers are at stake, requiring immediate intervention and long-term solutions.