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| Ranbir Canal: Major landmark of Jammu dying slow death | | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, June 1: The iconic Ranbir Canal, considered to be a major landmark of Jammu city and lifeline for common Jammuites in general and farming community in particular, is dying a slow death thanks largely to the lackadaisical approach of the authorities concerned, who are least bothered for the preservation of this heritage canal as they have failed to chalk out any long-term plan to save the water body.
Uncontrolled human activities which involve throwing off garbage as well as administrative indifference together are contributing to slow death of the historic Ranbir Canal, a part of Jammu's rich heritage for the last 108 years.
Plastic bags, other waste materials like rotten fruits and vegetables, poultry residue as well as debris can be easily found floating on the water body's surface as shopkeepers and inhabitants residing in the vicinity of the canal use it with impunity to get rid of discarded items.
Expressing dismay over the fast deteriorating condition of the canal, the Editor Early Times, Munish Gupta, said that even the much-hyped Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and other initiatives are of no use adding that the cosmetic efforts put in by the authorities cannot change the fate of the dying canal.
Gupta said that the canal is on the verge of becoming a big dumping site as people have turned the water body to dispose of solid waste and directly pour sewage generated in houses. At many places, the banks of the canal are filled with garbage and filth, he added.
The dumping of garbage is not only affecting the health of the canal badly but it is also proving out as a peril for those who take bath in the canal specifically in summer season since taking a plunge in the polluted water body could lead to skin disorders as well as other ailments.
"Ranbir Canal, one of the major landmarks of the city is slowly but steadily losing its charm due to the shortsightedness of the administration which is putting up merely halfhearted measures on ground and only making tall claims to restore the pristine glory of the water body," said Munish Gupta.
"The canal is still a popular picnic spot for the Jammuites in particular children especially during the scorching summers but people visiting the site now a days prefer to avoid cooling off in the icy waters due to the ever increasing pollution level in the water body," Gupta added.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Ranbir canal takes off from the left bank of river Chenab at Dumi Malpur village near Akhnoor and ends at Nekowal along International Border.
The water of 60 kms long canal is being used mainly for irrigating thousands of acres of land in scores of rural pockets adjoining Jammu city. Several villages along International Border in RS Pura and Bishnah are dependent on this water body for irrigation purposes to a large extent. It irrigates an area of about 30,000 hectares covering three tehsils of Jammu district.
The construction of the canal was taken up in 1905 during the rule of Maharaja Pratap Singh and completed in 1911 and named after Maharaja Ranbir Singh, father of Maharaja Pratap Singh |
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