Vacant posts hampering Kashmir’s irrigation management; MLA Pulwama calls for action on ‘worst irrigation crisis’

By: Jahangeer Ganaie

Srinagar: Amid what is being termed the region’s worst irrigation crisis in a century, senior officials from the Irrigation and Flood Control Department have acknowledged the challenges but asserted that ground-level staff are working tirelessly to manage operations despite the vacancies in top engineering posts.

A senior official of the department said, “There are challenges, no doubt, but our teams are working relentlessly. The absence of a Chief Engineer (CE) does not mean everything has collapsed.” He clarified that although many key positions, including the CE, remain vacant, operations are being managed by Junior Engineers (JEs), Assistant Executive Engineers (AEEs), and Executive Engineers (XENs).

Officials revealed that the post of CE Irrigation Kashmir has been vacant since May, following the retirement of the last CE, and nearly 20 Executive Engineer positions across Mechanical, Hospital Engineering, Irrigation, and Jal Shakti departments are also unfilled. “Several Superintending Engineers (SEs) are holding additional charges of two to three divisions due to this shortage,” the official said, describing the situation as “unsustainable.”

A list of ten SEs eligible for promotion to CE has been forwarded to the Establishment Committee, but no final decisions have been made yet. “CEs are appointed by the Establishment Committee. While we recognise the delay is problematic, we cannot bypass due process,” the official, requesting anonymity, said.

He defended the department’s prioritisation strategies amid the ongoing heatwave. “In shared-source areas, we are prioritising drinking water. You can’t create water — you can only manage it,” he said. Irrigation water is being supplied on a rotational basis, ensuring different sections receive water on alternate days to prevent complete drying.

Meanwhile, Pulwama MLA and PDP leader Waheed Ur Rehman Para criticised the government over what he called an administrative failure that is fueling the crisis. Para told KNO that six Chief Engineer posts, including CE Kashmir, and over seven posts of Executive Engineers and SEs remain vacant, which has paralysed the irrigation system.

“Almost all irrigation schemes are defunct. The department is rudderless due to a house committee on Jal Shakti not moving the files,” Para alleged.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the PDP leader posted: “Kashmir is battling its worst irrigation crisis in a century — dry canals, failed pumps, defunct schemes. The Irrigation Department is paralyzed. Why are key posts like Chief Engineer Kashmir, CEs, and XENs still vacant? Why can’t Hon’ble CM @OmarAbdullah fill this vacuum that’s fueling the disaster? FYI @CM_JnK why sit on files while a crisis looms overhead.”

Farmers across Kashmir have expressed distress, citing cracked paddy fields and failing crops. Despite some improvement compared to last year’s prolonged dry spell, the combination of high temperatures and vacant leadership roles is intensifying the crisis.

In the absence of a full-time CE, officials said the Administrative Secretary of the Jal Shakti Department is monitoring the situation through regular reviews and coordination meetings. —(KNO)