Ganderbal, June 30: Residents of several villages in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district have renewed their long-pending demand for the installation of protective fencing along the Upper Sindh Hydro Power Project-II (USHP-II) power canal, says that the decades-old canal has become a major safety hazard due to the absence of adequate safety measures.
The canal, constructed in 1965 by the Power Development Corporation (PDC), stretches from Rayil to Ganderbal, passing through Gund, Fraw, Haknar, Surfraw, Sumbal, Kangan and several other villages. According to local residents, the canal supplies water to the Ganderbal, Kangan and Surfraw-Sumbal hydropower projects but has remained largely unfenced for decades despite repeated public appeals.
Residents said only a few sections of the canal have been provided with protective fencing, while most of its length remains exposed, posing a serious threat to pedestrians, children, elderly residents and livestock. They said that the canal has claimed numerous human lives over the years, with many drowning incidents reported from different locations along its course.
According to the locals, three persons lost their lives in separate incidents in the canal during the month of June, further highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive safety measures.
“The canal has become a death trap. Every year we lose precious human lives and livestock due to the absence of fencing. We want complete fencing on both sides of the canal from Rayil to Ganderbal so that no more families have to suffer,” the residents said.
They further claimed that the canal has claimed many human lives and animals since its construction and expressed concern that, unless immediate preventive measures are taken, more tragedies could occur in the future.
The residents further said that despite repeated requests over several decades, the concerned department has failed to install fencing along vulnerable stretches of the canal. They said the issue has remained unresolved despite several fatal accidents.
Demanding immediate action, the locals urged the authorities to undertake a comprehensive fencing project along the entire canal, particularly through densely populated areas, to safeguard residents and prevent further loss of life.
Appealing for government intervention, the residents requested the district administration and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to personally look into the matter and direct the concerned departments to install protective fencing without further delay. They said timely action would help prevent future tragedies and ensure the safety of thousands of people living along the canal corridor.
