Junagarh/Bhawanipatna: Heavy rain in upstream areas of Hati river during the last five days and the release of water through the four gates of Mangalpur barrage has battered Kalahandi district. Woes were compounded by the Indravati project too, it is alleged.
Agriculture department sources said the Hati river has submerged around 1,450 hectares of farmland in nearby areas like Talamala, Atigaon, Chicheiguda, Nandol, Kendupati, Chingudisar, Bhainriguda, Baladiamal, Palash, Goudachhendia, Maliguda, Habaspur, Dasigaon, Rajpur and Banijara panchayats of Junagarh block, including the Junagarh civic area.
Around 53 houses in Junagarh tehsil have been damaged due to the heavy rain. Places in Junagarh block such as Khaliasara and Chicheiguda are completely cut-off and roads are submerged.
Heavy rains this year flooded Kalahandi district four times. The villagers of Matikhalo, Biripur, Balichhada, Temara, Paruaguda, Khangarguda, Jamapada, Bankapala, Khandi Dangariguda and Karmel are in panic.
The Indravati hydropower project has turned out to be a major headache for farmers in Kalahandi district as the project authorities released water into the Hati river without any warning, local residents said.
This created a flood in the district as 320.65 cusecs of water was suddenly released devastating farmlands. The farmers of Kalampur block and other flood-hit areas have strongly protested against this.
A source said, Sunday flood damaged pumps and farming equipment as well. Farmers had issues in rescuing their cattle from the water.
The water entered houses in low-lying areas and overflowed three-feet above the Matikhalo road of Biripur. The Kalampur tehsil office shifted 20 people to safer places.
As water flowed two-feet above the under construction Balichhada road, sand got deposited in nearby farmlands. Standing paddy crop was also badly damaged by this manmade flood.
Kalampur block recorded a rainfall of 42 mm and Rampur 92 mm Sunday. Farmers have warned of protests against the Indravati hydropower project authorities if such irresponsible acts are repeated.
