Chairman/CEC LAHDC Kargil, Feroz Ahmed Khan reviewed works of minor irrigation (drip Irrigation) and lift irrigation scheme of Sodh at the Council Secretariat on September 6.

Councilor, Yurbaltak constituency, Kacho Ahmed Ali Khan; Chief Agriculture Officer, Kacho Mohammad Ali Khan; Executive Engineer, PHE Division, Mohammad Hassan Lone; BDC Chairperson, Zakir Hussain, and other PRI members of Sodh constituency were present during the meeting.

Discussions and deliberations were followed on various aspects of the works related to Lift irrigation and Drip irrigation schemes in Sodh.

The village representatives informed that the Drip Irrigation scheme is a success however, due to the drought-like situation, they stressed the need to divert the funds under Micro Drip Irrigation to Lift Irrigation scheme works to preserve the existing crops, agricultural lands, and orchards.

CEC Khan said that the Drip Irrigation Scheme shall not be converted into Lift Irrigation but, instead, the bored water of drip irrigation will be put into Khuls to save the existing crops, trees, etc. due to severe drought. 

However same shall be used for drip irrigation once the drought situation is over," Khan said.

CEC Khan gave a patient hearing to the demand of public representatives of Sodh block and assured to do the needful by taking up the matter with the higher authorities in the UT Administration since the said scheme falls under state sector SDP.

He agreed with the suggestion of the public representatives who, earlier, suggested that the original purpose of the scheme must be continued once the drought situation subsides.

The CEC said that owing to the scarcity of water in the region, Drip Irrigation as undertaken in the SDP is the only viable solution in the longer run. Khan added that it has the potential to transform the agriculture scenario in the region.

Khan also took an assessment of the Major Lift Irrigation scheme to Sodh and was informed that ₹1.5 crore has been released while ₹ 60 lakh have been allocated for the access road while all machinery and equipment are dispatched by the concerned departments.

It was informed that all measures will be taken to make Phase 1 of the Sodh Lift Irrigation scheme functional.

Chief Agriculture Officer gave detailed information about the status of the Micro Drip Irrigation scheme in different villages of the Sodh Constituency.

The CEC was informed that under the New Command Area under Drip Irrigation, works at Yurbaltak, Byaama, Gyalsa, Chutumail, and Apate are undergoing to irrigate more land with less amount of water and to irrigate oil seed and Alfalfa is grown on pilot base. Also, it was informed that the scheme is a success however more land needs to be incorporated under the scheme to reduce the cost factor.