Over 15,000 farmers in the Haldwani region are facing shortage of irrigation water as the water level in the Gaula river has declined by 50 per cent due to scanty rain in the Bhabhar hill region of Nainital district for the last one week, said TD Kandpal, an engineer with the Irrigation Department, at Haldwani today.
He said the water level in the Gaula, which was 1,200 cusecs two weeks ago, had came down to 600 cusecs, thus affecting water supply to over 40 irrigation canals. “Farmers across the Gaula region will face water shortage for irrigation purpose if rains do not occur in near future,” he added.
Kandpal said the canals in the Gaula region need 120 cusecs of irrigation water, but they were getting only 100 cusecs from the Gaula barrage. At the same time, the canals situated on the other side of the river were getting only 200 cusecs against the demand of over 380 cusecs for irrigation purpose. “We will have to close some canals if it does not rain in near future. At present, we are supplying water from the barrage on the roaster basis,” said Kandpal.
The Banbasa region of Champawat district is facing a drought-like situation due to scanty rain. “September had been very sensitive from floods point of view till last year but this year it has received no rain. Around 1,434 mm of rainfall was recorded in August but it remained concentrated to some days only. This rain pattern is not healthy for crops,” said Vinod Kala, a farmer in the region.
He said the water level in the Gaula, which was 1,200 cusecs two weeks ago, had came down to 600 cusecs, thus affecting water supply to over 40 irrigation canals. “Farmers across the Gaula region will face water shortage for irrigation purpose if rains do not occur in near future,” he added.
Kandpal said the canals in the Gaula region need 120 cusecs of irrigation water, but they were getting only 100 cusecs from the Gaula barrage. At the same time, the canals situated on the other side of the river were getting only 200 cusecs against the demand of over 380 cusecs for irrigation purpose. “We will have to close some canals if it does not rain in near future. At present, we are supplying water from the barrage on the roaster basis,” said Kandpal.
The Banbasa region of Champawat district is facing a drought-like situation due to scanty rain. “September had been very sensitive from floods point of view till last year but this year it has received no rain. Around 1,434 mm of rainfall was recorded in August but it remained concentrated to some days only. This rain pattern is not healthy for crops,” said Vinod Kala, a farmer in the region.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/ Pithoragarh, September 11
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