Incomplete Lift Irrigation System Leaves Farmers of Shalgara in Distress

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, January 24, 2026

Farmers of the Shalgara area under the Udaipur subdivision of Gomati district are facing severe agricultural distress due to the incomplete lift irrigation system constructed between Shalgara and the Jamjuri river bridge across the Gomati River. The project, which was initiated to provide a reliable irrigation facility to local farmers, remains half done, raising serious concerns about administrative neglect and its impact on rural livelihoods.

The lift irrigation system was designed to draw water from the Gomati River, a lower-level source, and pump it to higher agricultural lands for distribution. Unlike flow irrigation systems that depend on gravity, lift irrigation requires mechanical pumping to ensure water reaches elevated fields. A concrete intake well has already been constructed at the river site to house pumps and related machinery. However, despite this visible infrastructure, the system has not been completed or made operational.

Local farmers allege that the concerned department has shown complete inactivity in completing the remaining work. As a result, the infrastructure stands unused, offering no relief to cultivators who depend heavily on irrigation for crop production. The situation has become particularly alarming during the paddy plantation season, as rice cultivation requires adequate and timely water supply.

Due to the lack of irrigation facilities, farmers are struggling to prepare fields and raise paddy seedlings. Many depend solely on rainfall, which has become increasingly unreliable. In the absence of assured water sources, several farmers have either delayed cultivation or reduced the area under paddy, directly affecting their income and food security.

“The lift irrigation system could have transformed agriculture in this area,” said a local farmer. “But it is painful to see such an important project abandoned halfway while we suffer every season.”

Agriculture is the primary livelihood for the majority of families in Shalgara and nearby villages. The failure to complete the irrigation project has not only affected crop yield but has also increased farmers’ dependency on private water sources, which are costly and unaffordable for small and marginal farmers.

Residents are now demanding immediate intervention from the authorities to complete the project and make it functional at the earliest. Farmers believe that operationalizing the lift irrigation system would significantly improve agricultural productivity, ensure water security, and enhance rural economic stability in the region.

The incomplete project stands as a stark reminder of how delayed infrastructure development continues to burden farmers, highlighting the urgent need for accountability and action from the concerned department.

more news...