Summary:
DHARAMSHALA: In a classic case of political apathy and ever-rising project costs, the incomplete Shah Nehar Canal project-largest for the hill state-is in dire state of neglect. The irrigation project was conceived in 1987 with costs to be shared in the ratio of 60 and 40 by the states of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh respectively. "However, local farmers have complained that they are not getting the benefit of this irrigation scheme after so many years. And moreover, parts of the canal have started wearing off, and repairs would mean an additional cost burden on the state. The aqua-ducts have been constructed at a height of 25 meters using RCC pillars.Well-placed sources have told TOI that water has reached to only 30% of the fields as of now..