JAMMU: The Kastigarh irrigation canal, the only major irrigation facility in the Doda-West constituency, has suffered repeated damages due to landslides, rainfall, snowfall, and forest fires in the past two years. The government has confirmed that efforts are underway to secure funds from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to repair the affected sections and restore smooth irrigation services to agricultural lands in the region.
The 20-kilometre-long canal, which serves around 720 hectares of farmland in villages such as Kadlal, Malwa, Kuddhar, Manwhas, Parshal, Mundhar, and Kastigarh, was initially damaged by a landslide in July 2024 between RD (8525 – 8600) metres. The affected portion was subsequently repaired. However, fresh damage occurred over a four-kilometre stretch during the winter season due to extreme weather and forest fires. The Jal Shakti Department has taken up the matter with the Deputy Commissioner of Doda for the release of SDRF funds to facilitate further restoration work.
For the development, repair, and maintenance of the Kastigarh canal, Rs 90.16 lakh was allocated over the last two financial years. In 2022-23, Rs 61.43 lakh was released under the UT Capex budget, of which Rs 13.19 lakh was spent. In 2023-24, Rs 30 lakh was allocated, with Rs 21 lakh being utilised. In addition to the Kastigarh canal, there are five minor irrigation canals in the constituency—Bhagwah Khul, Mandole Khul, Gai Khul, Ganika Khul, and Dandi Khul. However, no funds have been allocated for their maintenance in the past two years, resulting in some of them becoming non-functional due to damages.
Mandole Khul and Dandi Khul remain operational, while Bhagwah Khul and Gai Khul have suffered damages that have rendered them non-functional. Ganika Khul remains only partially functional. Similar to the Kastigarh canal, repair work on these minor irrigation canals has been proposed, pending fund approval from the district administration under SDRF.
On the issue of financial accountability, the government has confirmed that the Directorate of Audit and Inspections, Jammu and Kashmir, has conducted an audit of fund utilisation for irrigation projects in the constituency. However, no third-party audit has been carried out to assess potential mismanagement or incomplete works.
