Akhnoor, Mar 16: Minister for Jal Shakti, Javed Ahmed Rana, inaugurated the release of water into the main Ranbir Canal at its intake near Steel Bridge, ensuring timely irrigation for farmland across the canal’s command areas.

The event was attended by MLA Akhnoor Mohan Lal, MLA Nagrota Devyani Rana, Chief Engineer I&FC Jammu Manoj Gupta, and other senior officers of the Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) Department.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister highlighted the canal’s critical role in supporting agriculture from Akhnoor to R.S. Pura. He assured farmers of an adequate water supply throughout the irrigation season and emphasized that mandatory annual desilting of canals had been completed in advance to improve flow capacity, particularly benefiting villages at the tail end of the network.
Rana personally oversaw preparatory works, directing the department to ensure their timely completion. The desilting process, conducted during the January–March canal closure period, removes accumulated silt, weeds, and obstructions, restoring the canal to its design capacity while minimizing disruption to agricultural activities.
Officials noted that for the past three years, the I&FC Department has completed desilting in two months, a month faster than the previous three-month schedule. This year, the canal has been recharged in March, nearly a month earlier than before.
Commending the department’s efforts, the Minister directed any remaining works be finished promptly to guarantee uninterrupted irrigation. He also highlighted upcoming projects aimed at strengthening flood protection infrastructure, safeguarding lives, farmland, and public property across the region.