KATHUA, : Director Command Area Development, Jammu, Shiv Kumar Gupta today reviewed the ongoing OFD Works of Shahpur kandi CAD project phase- I sanctioned under NABARD and conducted extensive inspections during field tour . After the completion of
Shahpur Kandi Dam project, the discharge of irrigation water in the main Ravi canal is expected to increase substantially through gravity which is presently being lifted through pumping.
In a state of being preparedness to harness the likely increase in the discharge of water in the Ravi canal and its distributaries, concurrently the Command Area Development, Jammu prepared Shahpur Kandi CAD project Phase -I in which 5429 Hectares CCA will be covered on MRC distributaries number D1 ,D2 ,D3 & 3A,D4 & 4A, D5, D10, D11 & D12 at an estimated cost of Rs1919.15 lakh by which 3350 farming families are expected to be benefited. This project was submitted to NABARD by the Agriculture Production Department which stands approved.
While reviewing the progress, it was informed that 1780 Hactares of Cultivable area have been covered by the OFD works executed so far utilizing 324.68 lakh.
Director CAD Jammu randomly inspected the OFD works at Pathwal & at Chadwal area.
ASCO CAD Dayalachak and other field staff accompanied the Director during the tour. He impressed upon the officials to ensure timely completion of the project and keep constantly monitoring the pace and quality of works.
The Director, CAD interacted with the farmers and sought their feedback with regard to the OFD works executed by the Field staff of CAD through the contractors. The farmers and Ex Sarpanch of Chadwal area of Kathua district expressed satisfaction and gratitude towards the CAD for having executed the field channels on their agricultural land.
It was informed that prior to the execution of these works, the farmers of the tail end area had to wait for days and nights together for the water to reach to their respective fields and some of them could not grow paddy due to insufficient water reaching to their farms. But with the execution of such works of field channels in Shahpur Kandi CAD project funded by NABARD, the water reaches to their fields swiftly and there is no seepage and wastage of this precious resource as a result they are now able to grow crops successfully.
