TIMERGARA, March 10: Farmers have called upon the central and provincial governments to resume construction work on the Gopalum irrigation project.

Experts said the project could bring about a green revolution in the area where poppy was being cultivated for a long time.

Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani during a visit to Dir in 2003 had promised to arrange funds for the Gopalum project.

Most people in Dir depend on agriculture for a living. A few years back the government banned poppy cultivation and farmers were encouraged to grow other crops. However, farmers face problems owing to lack of a proper irrigation system in the area. Landowners and farmers of Dir Lower told Dawn that their fate was completely dependent on favourable weather and rainwater.

A total of 25,996 hectares of land was ‘barani’ in the area. There are a total of 69 tubewells; 16 run by the government and 53 under the private sector. Some of the government tubewells like Ajoo Talash and Shawa Adenzai have been lying out of order since long.

There is no other irrigation canal in the district except Badwan channel, which provides water only in Kharif and remains dry in Rabi season.