Residents allege authorities for failing to clear a canal irrigating paddy fields in several villages in Ganderbal

Residents of the Hayan area of Kangan in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district have turned angry towards authorities for failing to clear a canal that irrigates paddy fields in several villages in the Ganderbal district. The Yachama to Akhal canal which used to irrigate thousands of canals of paddy fields is now filled with garbage and has damaged paddy worth lakhs of a farmer in Hayan village of Kangan. The canal provided drinking water and was used for washing purposes as well by the villagers living along with it.“Waste material coming from the homes is directly dumped into it, the authorities are also nowhere seen to take any action,” said a resident of Hayan. A farmer Nazir Ahmad Najar son of late Ghulam Mohammad Najar belonging to Hayan area in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district is in “trauma” after a canal constructed by government damaged his 10 kanal paddy field. As per the farmer, the authorities have failed to clean the canal despite his pleas and requests. While talking to a local news agency, the farmer alleged that the officials in the irrigation department paid no heed to his pleas and this negligence left his paddy field damaged. “I many times requested the men of the concerned department to clean the paddy fields but they neglected the requested by saying that we have no time.” said the farmer. The farmer requested the higher officials to look into this matter and provide him compensation. “I request the higher officials of the irrigation department to take strict action against those who don’t do their duties properly,” he added. Upon being contacted by a local news agency, an official in the irrigation department said that he will look into this matter and will take strict action.