Amid irrigation crisis, vacant Jal Shakti key posts stall development in Kashmir

Srinagar, Jun 25: As Kashmir battles one of its worst irrigation crises in years, a severe manpower crunch in the Jal Shakti Department is stalling critical development and maintenance efforts — even as farmers watch their paddy fields wither under an unrelenting sun.

Several key engineering positions remain vacant, including the post of Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control Kashmir, unfilled since May following the retirement of A.R. Tirat Ram. Ram had assumed charge barely a month earlier; the post had remained vacant for several months before his appointment. Naresh Kumar, Chief Engineer Public Health Engineering (PHE), currently holds the additional charge.

Similarly, the Chief Engineer’s post at Ravi Tawi Irrigation Complex (RTIC) Jammu is also vacant, with Manoj Gupta handling additional responsibilities.

According to official data reviewed by Greater Kashmir, 10 Chief Engineer posts in the Jal Shakti Department remain unfilled, along with at least 20 Executive Engineer (Mechanical) positions. More than 150 Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) posts are also vacant across the civil and mechanical wings, leaving Superintendent Engineers (SEs) overburdened with dual responsibilities. “This has severely hampered project implementation during the peak working season,” an official said. “Several irrigation canals are dry, and many lift irrigation schemes are non-functional due to lack of staff and maintenance.”

In south and central Kashmir, farmers are watching their crops dry up. “There’s no water at all,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, a farmer in Anantnag village, standing beside his cracked and dry field. “We waited for engineers to show up. No one came. We fear we’ll lose the season.”

Mechanical divisions — essential to operating tube wells and flood control equipment — are also facing a major human resource crisis. Over 380 posts remain vacant, including 20 Executive Engineers and around 250 Junior Engineers.

PDP leader Waheed-ur-Rehman Para called the situation an “agricultural emergency.” In a post on social media platform X, he wrote, “Why are key posts like Chief Engineer Kashmir, CEs, and XENs still vacant while paddy fields are drying up?” He tagged the Chief Minister and the J&K government, urging immediate action. Farmers across districts in the Valley’s rice belt report dry irrigation channels and failing tube wells, further jeopardizing the region’s food security.

The Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) of Engineers — representing both civil and mechanical wings — also raised the alarm. In a statement, the JCC urged the government to immediately fill the vacancies in the Jal Shakti and Public Works (R&B) departments.

“The delays are stalling development projects and public service delivery, while also affecting the career progression of in-service engineers,” the committee said. It called on the Chief Minister and senior officials to act swiftly to restore administrative efficiency and prevent long-term damage to irrigation infrastructure. Jal Shakti Minister, Javed Ahmed Rana, when contacted,  said efforts are underway to fill the vacant posts. “We are actively working on this. The posts will be filled within a few days,” he said.