And in India’s northern Jammu and Kashmir state a restoration project is under way to help the locals. The state government is revitalizing an old water canal back to its former glory.
This canal is the main source of water for villages in the districts of Pulwama and Anantnag districts in southern Kashmir.
But the old and dysfunctional canal is more of a problem than help for farmers wanting reliable irrigation for their crops.
So the State Irrigation and Flood Control Department is taking the initiative to restore the canal to its past glory.
A capital investment of 330 million rupees is being pumped into project.
Within two years it will supply water to rice fields and apple orchards.
[Eijaz Hussian Shah, Project Engineer]: (Urdu)
"The improvement of this age-old canal was very important. Earlier, because of meager funds, we could not attend to its entire network. But now with God's grace, the funding has also been done and within two years, hopefully it would be completed and many new structures are coming up. “
Many local residents are pleased that the authorities are investing in the canal. To them it means not only better irrigation, but improved employment opportunities for the young people in the area.
[Rafiq Ahmad, Local Resident]: (Urdu)
"When the protection wall is completed, water will not get wasted and we can use that for irrigation purposes. Our fields will not remain dry anymore. And apart from that I feel that this project would open up new job opportunities for the youth who are unemployed."
The canal used to provide water for around four thousand acres of land.
This canal is the main source of water for villages in the districts of Pulwama and Anantnag districts in southern Kashmir.
But the old and dysfunctional canal is more of a problem than help for farmers wanting reliable irrigation for their crops.
So the State Irrigation and Flood Control Department is taking the initiative to restore the canal to its past glory.
A capital investment of 330 million rupees is being pumped into project.
Within two years it will supply water to rice fields and apple orchards.
[Eijaz Hussian Shah, Project Engineer]: (Urdu)
"The improvement of this age-old canal was very important. Earlier, because of meager funds, we could not attend to its entire network. But now with God's grace, the funding has also been done and within two years, hopefully it would be completed and many new structures are coming up. “
Many local residents are pleased that the authorities are investing in the canal. To them it means not only better irrigation, but improved employment opportunities for the young people in the area.
[Rafiq Ahmad, Local Resident]: (Urdu)
"When the protection wall is completed, water will not get wasted and we can use that for irrigation purposes. Our fields will not remain dry anymore. And apart from that I feel that this project would open up new job opportunities for the youth who are unemployed."
The canal used to provide water for around four thousand acres of land.
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