Shiv Sena took out the garbage and protest over deplorable condition of Ranbir Canal
State’s largest irrigation network should be declared heritage: Sahni
JAMMU: Shiv Sena Jammu and Kashmir unit today staged a vigorous protest against the deplorable condition of Ranbir canal, demanding its cleanliness and proper maintenance of the canal along with its expansion.
Led by Manish Sahni, President Shiv Sena J&K unit, dozens of party activists today assembled at Mira Sahib Chowk in Tehsil RS Pura and raised slogans against the district administration for not showing its serious concern over poor condition of Ranbir canal.
Shiv Sainiks also remove the upper garbage from one 9f Ranbir canal branch of Meera Saheb।
In his address, Sahni said that due to non-availability of funds, administrative apathy, the 117-year-old historic Ranbir Canal, which is the largest irrigation network of the state and the lifeline of thousands of farmers including Basmati cultivators, has losing its existence for the past few years.
“It is because of this canal that farming could start on a large scale in hundreds of villages of Domana, Marh, RS Pura, Miran Sahib, Bishnah, Arnia etc. areas of Jammu district, which made the farmers prosperous and self-reliant. Today the same canal is facing official apathy with the accumulation of heaps of garbage. Once a year, before Baisakhi, the administration is trying to wash its face by cleaning it improvised,” he said. Its branches in Dream City, Paloura, Talab Tillo, Shakti Nagar, Trikuta Nagar and Nai Basti in Jammu city are turning into drains due to the neglect of the administration and negligence of the public, he said.
“This historic canal was built by Maharaja Ranveer Singh in 1905 to promote agriculture in hundreds of rural areas of Jammu district. Ranvir Canal provides water for agriculture to farmers in about 490 villages of Jammu district. It is lifeline especially for the Kandi areas of the district,” he said, adding that thousands of small canals are taken out of this canal which is about 60 kilometers long and the same water is transported to the remote villages of Jammu.
He urged the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to declare Ranbir Canal as the heritage of the state and pay special attention to its expansion, repair and cleanliness.
Sahni also appealed to the public to keep the canal clean and not to throw any garbage.
Many leaders and workers including General Secretary Vikas Bakshi, President Kamgar Wing Raj Singh, Secretary Geeta Lakhotra, President RS Pura Sanjeev Sudan, Mangu Ram, Subhash, Manoj Vicky, Dimple were present on this occasion.
