The construction work of the Tral Lift Irrigation Scheme in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama gained momentum after the Indian government revoked Article 370 and announced Jammu and Kashmir as Union Territory in 2019.
This much-awaited and prestigious scheme is a three-staged lift irrigation project, implemented at a cost of 170.50 crore under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) having an irrigation potential of 4,818 hectares.
Initially, stage I and stage II (partly) of the scheme were commissioned and work was going at a low pace for stage III, but now the work has started on a war-footing as the administration directed the officials to complete the project by 2020 end.
The mega scheme is situated in Tral town of the Pulwama district and was envisaged to provide irrigation facilities in 22 villages of Tral and Awantipora blocks.
According to Executive Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control Tral, the execution work of this mega project is being monitored by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
“The government of the Union Territory showed great interest in this project. We are following the SOPs provided by the government amid the COVID-19 crisis. This is a three-stage scheme,” he said.
Local villagers have hailed this project by the government as it will resolve the irrigation problems that they face summer. This construction work also provides employment to several local labourers.
“I am a resident of Tral. The construction work is being carried out smoothly here. A lot of schemes have been launched since Jammu and Kashmir became a Union Territory. I am really thankful to the Central government as unemployment issue has also been addressed here,” said Imroz Wani, a local villager.
“We are really happy as the work is going on smoothly. If the work continues to run at the same pace, it will be finished soon,” said Gulzar Ahmad, another villager.