Drying up: Farmers protest closure of Nepkikhel irrigation channel

Claim it has been blocked for a month, adding lack of water would ruin their crops.

KABAL:

Farmers in Kabal tehsil on Saturday warned of protests and sit-ins outside the irrigation office against the closure of Nepkikhel irrigation channel.

They recorded their protest stating the major channel which irrigates thousands of acres of agricultural land in the tehsil has been blocked for a month. Majority of the residents are farmers and the area is a major source of rice, wheat and maize crops.

“Our standing crops worth millions of rupees are going to be ruined if the channel remains closed. We asked the irrigation department again and again, but they have turned a deaf ear to us,” said Ghulam Subhani, a local farmer.

“It is the most fertile area for all kinds of agriculture produce. Apart from corn, we produce huge quantities of vegetables and supply to local and national markets,” said Abdul Nasir, another farmer.

In addition to vegetables, farmers claim the area produces high quality fruits that are then supplied to markets in Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi, among other parts of the country.

Irrigation officials say several parts of the channel have been damaged, which is why some areas are not receiving water.

“The water level in the Swat River has decreased near the main diversion of the irrigation channel. About a 100-feet patch of the bundh has also been damaged,” said Nazir Ahmad, a sub-divisional engineer at the irrigation department. He said the chief engineer has been informed and work on the damaged parts of the irrigation channel will start soon.

An old aqueduct has also been damaged in Kanju area and water cannot pass through, Nazir added. An aqueduct is a water bridge constructed to allow smooth flow of water through obstacles such as a ravine or valley.

Farmers have given a three-day ultimatum, saying they would take to the streets if their demands are not met.

“We have orchards for peaches, apples, apricot and persimmons. All of our agricultural land depends on the Nepkikhel irrigation channel, but neither the government nor the irrigation department is bothering to fix it,” said farmer Sadiq Ali.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th, 2013.