Strange! Ujh river discharge falls in Kathua amidst monsoon season

Farmers urged to adhere to water distribution schedule till river water level rises

Jammu: It may sound unusual, but it’s true that the discharge from Ujh river in Kathua district has receded due to insufficient rainfall in the midst of the monsoon season, forcing the officials from Jal Shakti Department to request farmers that they should cooperate with the ‘warabandi’ water distribution schedule until river water levels rise.
According to a public notice, the Executive Engineer of the Ravi Canal Construction (Lower Division) in Hiranagar has asked farmers, PRI members, and heads of Kisan unions to adhere to the existing (already issued) “warabandi schedule” until water levels in the river improve. Warabandi is a water distribution system designed to ensure fair and scheduled water supply rotation among farmers.
The Executive Engineer said that “due to low precipitation this monsoon season, the Ujh river’s water level has decreased, resulting in very low discharge in the Ravi Canal. There is no adequate availability of irrigation water”.
The latest data of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) indicates that around 40 percent of districts covering the country’s one-third area have received deficient rainfall despite the Southwest monsoon having progressed for over a month and a half. The weaker monsoon has left the agrarian region, particularly rainfed areas, including Kandi belts of Jammu region, high and dry.
However, noted weatherman Sonam Lotus has predicted that Jammu and Kashmir is very likely to experience a good spell of rain during July 28 and July 30 with a 65-70% chance of precipitation. Currently, the region has been facing hot and humid conditions due to increasing temperature.
It is important to mention here that J&K is expected to get a maximum 1150 cusecs of water from its share in Ravi river with the completion of Shahpur Kandi barrage (dam), bordering Punjab and J&K. Punjab is expected to receive 5000 cusecs of water from Ravi river.
The irrigation plan covers around 32,000 hectares of land in the Kandi belt of Kathua and Samba, as well as other areas including Kathua, Rajbagh, Sanji Morh, Mareen, Hiranagar, Rajpura, Samba, Vijaypur, and Ramgarh, with an 82-kilometer stretch of the Ravi Tawi canal extending to Ramgarh sub-division.

Updated On 7/26/2024 1:29:49 AM