The long-damaged irrigation channel in Saho, located in Himachal Pradesh's Chamba district, is being reconstructed at an estimated cost of Rs 6 crore. The project is expected to benefit more than 2,000 people in the region. However, farmers have raised objections over excavation carried out during the laying of pipelines.
Farmers in the Saho region of Chamba have been facing irrigation water shortages for years. The old irrigation channel, which supplied water to agricultural fields, had been damaged at several locations. Disruptions in water supply forced farmers to depend on rainfall for irrigation, making cultivation difficult, particularly during periods of low rainfall.
The irrigation channel is now being reconstructed. Approximately half of its length has been developed as a permanent concrete channel, while GI iron pipes are being installed along the remaining sections.
The department aims to ensure an uninterrupted flow of water to agricultural fields and establish an irrigation system that can remain operational over the long term.
The irrigation project is expected to benefit more than 2,000 people living in Saho and surrounding areas. Farmers who previously lacked a permanent irrigation facility are expected to benefit from the restored water supply.
Once operational, the channel will enable farmers to irrigate their crops according to their requirements. It is also expected to help them carry out agricultural activities on time and access irrigation facilities even when rainfall is delayed.
The project is also expected to improve water availability for livestock. In addition to agricultural irrigation, the water could be used for certain other essential requirements in the villages.
While the reconstruction has raised expectations of improved irrigation facilities, objections have emerged at some locations during the construction work.
Small HDPE pipelines are being laid to transport water to agricultural fields, requiring excavation at several locations.
Some farmers have alleged that permission was not obtained from them before pipelines were installed on their land. They said that although the project was beneficial, the concerned landowners should have been consulted before construction work began on their fields.
Residents have also reported that excavation work has damaged some roads connecting agricultural fields and villages, causing difficulties for people travelling through the area. In several locations, identifying the boundaries of agricultural plots has also become difficult.
Farmers have urged the Jal Shakti Department to obtain the consent of landowners before laying pipelines. They have also demanded the repair of roads damaged during construction.
Chamba Sadar MLA Neeraj Nayar said the irrigation channel in Saho was very old and had previously been used to supply water to agricultural fields in the region. Over the years, the channel sustained damage at several locations, affecting the irrigation system.
He said efforts had been underway for a long time to reconstruct the old channel. Following the approval of approximately Rs 6 crore for the project, construction work has now commenced and is progressing.
According to the MLA, pipes are being installed to strengthen the irrigation system. Once the work is completed, farmers will no longer have to depend on rainfall for agricultural irrigation.
However, no specific completion date for the project has been announced.
Jitendra Sharma, Executive Engineer of the Jal Shakti Department in Chamba, said reconstruction work on the Saho irrigation channel was underway. He acknowledged that some residents had raised objections regarding excavation during construction.
Following the complaints, the department sent an Assistant Engineer to the site. Officials have been instructed to hold discussions with local residents and farmers so that their concerns can be taken into account as construction progresses.
The department is working towards resolving the farmers' grievances and completing the irrigation channel project at the earliest.
Farmers in Saho are now awaiting the completion of the project. Once operational, the reconstructed channel is expected to address longstanding irrigation difficulties in the region. However, farmers have maintained that their agricultural land and village roads must also be taken into consideration during the construction process.
