Nuapada: Even though the construction of the Lower Indra Irrigation Project (LIIP) in the Khariar block of Nuapada district has not been completed, the main spillway of the reservoir has developed cracks and has caved in.
The vertical subsiding of soil in an area of about 100 square metres on the right side of the spillway has spread fear among locals.
Meanwhile, after repeated complaints, an 8-member scientific team of the government’s Dam Safety Review Panel conducted a spot visit and reviewed the spillway.
The research team informed the locals not to panic as the soil has caved in due to natural processes and would not pose any threat to the dam.
However, locals accused the construction company of poor quality work. They said the soil collected for the earth fill was not from the dug up area. After testing the soil for good compaction density, an area near Badmaheswar village was found fit for the earth fill. However, to save costs the contractor used dispersive clay soil and silt available nearby.
Thus the subsiding is not due to vertical settlement as argued by the dam authorities, but must have been caused by cracks from the differential settlement of the clay soil and poor compaction, locals said.
“The inspection team carried out a probe and clarified that there is no threat. The team has also ordered for restoration of the project,” Sunil Kumar Nayak, Chief Construction Engineer of the Lower Indra Irrigation Project said.
Meanwhile, many people displaced by the project have not been rehabilitated and this has led to outrage in the area. Earlier, members of the Lower Indira Janasachetan Manch had staged a protest and blocked NH-353 demanding immediate rehabilitation of people displaced by the project.
PNN
