Breach in newly constructed Indravati raise canal destroys 100 acres of paddy crops in Odisha

By Express News Service
BHAWANIPATNA: Paddy crops on greater than 100 acres of land have been destroyed following a breach within the newly constructed Indravati mega raise canal close to Majhiguda below Koksara block in Kalahandi district within the wee hours of Saturday.

Sources mentioned a 10-foot-long breach developed on the embankment of the canal inundating farm land within the low mendacity areas and resulting in siltation in additional than 20 acres of paddy discipline.

Built at a price of Rs 986.71 crore, the Indravati raise irrigation venture was devoted to the state by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on January 14 and water was launched within the mega raise canal for the primary time for irrigation on July 8.

Though the rationale behind the breach was but to be ascertained, locals attributed it to substandard building of canal embankments and linings.

Chief building engineer of Indravati venture Bibhusharan Mishra, government engineer of raise canal system Kondol Rao, consultant of L& T, the establishing company and different officers visited the spot to determine the reason for breach.

“We are investigating what could be the possible reasons that led to the breach. As per agreement, the constructing agency will look after the maintenance for five years. The entire stretch of the embankment will be inspected once again,” Rao mentioned.

Locals alleged that the embankment had developed cracks a few months after the inauguration of the venture, however nobody paid any heed. The weak embankment couldn’t face up to heavy stream of water launched as a result of incessant rain within the upstream inflicting the breach, they claimed.

Meanwhile, a group of income officers led by the Koksara tehsildar visited the spot to evaluate the harm. The affected villagers might be compensated as per guidelines, the officers assured.