Keonjhar: The left side canal embankment of the Kanjhari irrigation project caved in Thursday, causing extensive damage to farmlands in the area. A stretch of about 20 m of the canal caved in due to substandard work. Now, during farming season, water does not reach the lower end while it drains out elsewhere, leading to anguish among farmers.
According to the junior engineers of the irrigation project, about six acres of farmland have been damaged, but locals claim the extent of damage caused by gushing water could be much more. Farmers alleged that the canal collapsed due to botched-up work.
Kanjhair is said to be the sole effective irrigation project that provides irrigation to thousands of hectares of land in areas under Keonjhar Sadar block, Ghatagaon and Patana. Thousands of farmers get irrigation facilities round the year to raise various crops.
Locals said crores of rupees are spent towards its maintenance and repair annually, but its work is being botched up for lack of proper monitoring. Even repairs of the canal to the tune of lakhs of rupees are being carried out without approval of local pani panchayats.
Locals said the irregularities were being swept under the rug by officials.
In the current season, farming in the district has been hit by insufficient rainfall, but farmers were not worried about scanty rainfall thanks to the irrigation project.
The repair work of the canal lining and guard wall was under way, when part of it collapsed. “It collapsed suddenly Thursday. It will be repaired immediately so that water will be released to the lower areas,” said junior engineer Narendra Nayak.
Locals stated that the repair of guard wall and canal lining work is being carried out at a cost of `8 crore, but engineers do not monitor the work.
The collapse of a portion of the canal posed a doubt over the quality of work. The famers have demanded a high-level probe into canal work which is done without proper tenders and approval of pani panchayats. PNN
