Breach in Shah canal worries Indora farmers

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, September 14

A breach in Shah canal in Punjab region has spelled trouble for the farmers of Himachal. Shah canal that originates from Pong Dam in Talwara region of Punjab caters to irrigation needs of the farmers of Indora regional of Himachal Pradesh.

Sources here said about 20 meter breach developed in the Shah canal portion located in Punjab on September 11.

Ghansham Pathania, a farmer of Indora region, while talking to The Tribune, said at this point of time they required water badly for their paddy crop. “We are being informed by the authorities that the Punjab Irrigation Department has dithering over repairing the canal citing paucity of funds. In case the repair of the canal was delayed the farmers of Indora region, who are dependent on canal irrigation, will have to suffer”, he said.

Chief Engineer, Shah Canal, Naveen Puri, said his department had taken up the matter with the Punjab Irrigation Department officials. They have started the work of repair of breach today. “Punjab Irrigation Department officials have informed us that the breach in canal would be repaired within one week. We hope that the water supply in the canal would also be restored once the breach is plugged. Once the water supply is restored we would try to supply more water to farmers and clear their backlog”, the Chief Engineer said.