By Basharat Rashid
PULWAMA: Approved by the State Government in 1979 the Hari Lift Irrigation project in Pulwama district which would have eased the water crisis particularly for agricultural purposes, is yet to be declared complete and locals claim ‘it never would’.
The total project length is almost 15 kilometers, an official wishing anonymity told INS.
Following approval, locals claim, work commenced in 1980, from Kcheckout to Wagad area.
“The project is one of the biggest projects in Kashmir and crores of rupees have been spent so far. Results of which however are awaited despite passing of four decades,” they complained.
The locals in Pinglish, Reshipora, Shaldraman and other areas told INS that the work going on is ‘so slow that it will take another generation to see if it ever completes’.
Claiming improvement of work in last decade, Nisar Ahmad Kar, Executive Irrigation Irrigation, said that the reason of delay has been the ‘delay in releasing of funds’.
“The project cost is around 170 crore,” Kar said, adding that in 2018 and 19 no funds were released for the work.
“Compensation issues to state land, property land and forest land also halted the work on many occasions,” he said.
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