Drought Hits Paddy Fields in Several Villages in Anantnag District; Farmers Worried

By Sameer Ahmad

Anantnag: A severe shortage of irrigation water has hit several villages here in Anantnag District, causing deep concern among the farmers.

Sources told Arising State that the irrigation water shortage has left hundreds of acres of paddy fields dry in several villages of Anantnag district.

The villages including Hakura, Palpora, Khoshipora, Bragam, Nowpora, Kreeri, Nethipora, Batengoo, Uranhall, Shamsipora, Jablipora, Husanpora, Aarwani, Monghal, Chirhama, and Ruhu are witnessing vast stretches of parched farmland due to the lack of adequate irrigation water.

The situation is turning grim, and the paddy fields — vast tracts that should be lush green at this stage — are drying up under the harsh heatwave, leaving farmers helpless and increasingly desperate. “This is nothing short of a looming agricultural disaster,” said a distressed farmer from Anantnag to Arising State.

Meanwhile, an official in the Agriculture Department has said that several villages in Anantnag are facing serious irrigation shortages. The department has kept a contingency plan ready in case the situation worsens. “We are monitoring the situation,” he said.