Indus river irrigation projects miss deadline

Three irrigation projects in the Indus river basin in Jammu and Kashmir, which were supposed to be completed by March this year, have missed their deadline, a top government official has said.

These projects are part of the 23 irrigation works the government had prioritised to complete by the end of the previous fiscal under two central schemes.

While the remaining ones are nearing completion, sources said the Tral irrigation project in Pulwama, Prakachik Khows canal project in Kargil, and the modernisation of Ravi Canal in Jammu have failed to meet the deadline.

According to the official, the Tral project got delayed after the Jammu and Kashmir government decided to review it. The official, however, did not elaborate on why the review was being done.

“The work on Prakachik Khows canal also could not progress as expected due to hostile weather conditions,” the official added. The modernisation of the main Ravi canal is expected to be completed by December. The other two projects are likely to be completed by next year.

Last year, the government had decided to fast-track four projects, including these three, under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayi Yojana and Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme, aiming to increase irrigated land in the state by nearly 2.05 lakh acres.