SRINAGAR: The Jal Shakti Department has taken up desilting of 1,377 irrigation canals and khuls in Kashmir during 2026-27 in convergence with the Jal Shakti Department, while 984 additional desilting and upgradation works identified in Jammu division are yet to be taken up.
The department disclosed the figures in response to an Un-Starred Assembly question by Pattan MLA Javaid Riyaz on the desilting and upgradation of irrigation canals and khuls in Jammu and Kashmir.
In Kashmir, Rs 971.74 lakh has been spent on wages for the 1,377 desilting works taken up during the current financial year, generating 2,88,346 person-days of employment.
In Jammu division, 289 khuls have been taken up for desilting during 2026-27 at a cost of Rs 59.46 lakh, with 28 works completed so far. A further 64 khul works costing Rs 11.83 lakh have been taken up.
The department has also taken up 150 canal desilting works costing Rs 38.80 lakh in Jammu division, of which 24 have been completed. Eight canal upgradation works costing Rs 4.48 lakh have also been initiated, with one completed.
The government said another 984 desilting and upgradation works had been identified in Jammu division but had not yet been taken up.
Jammu works during 2025-26
During 2025-26, 281 khuls were desilted in Jammu division at a cost of Rs 140.58 lakh, of which 257 were completed.
Another 246 khuls were taken up for upgradation at a cost of Rs 258.86 lakh, with 204 completed.
The department also undertook 156 canal desilting works costing Rs 81.24 lakh, of which 149 were completed. All 11 canal upgradation works taken up during the period, at a cost of Rs 12.54 lakh, were completed.
The Jal Shakti Department said desilting of major and medium canals in Jammu division is carried out annually during the canal closure period. For 2025-26, these works were undertaken between January and March 2026 under the Maintenance and Repairs (M&R) programme.
Upgradation and repair of existing irrigation khuls, the department said, are undertaken as a regular activity, with ongoing and new works taken up in Jammu division.
Rural Development Department also involved
The Rural Development Department has separately undertaken desilting and upgradation of irrigation canals and khuls under MGNREGA/VB-GRAMG, including through convergence with the Jal Shakti Department.
The works are intended to remove silt, debris and other obstructions and to repair, restore and improve canals and khuls to facilitate the conveyance of irrigation water to agricultural fields.
In Kashmir division, the Jal Shakti Department has also undertaken desilting of irrigation canals and khuls through stage contracts and Maintenance and Repairs during the irrigation season.
The department said upgradation of irrigation khuls in Kashmir is also being undertaken under the UT Capex programme.
