Farmers Worried As Paddy Fields Submerged After Breach In Canal Embankment In Odisha’s Kalahandi

Bhawanipatna: Panic gripped farmers at Badphundagaon in Kutrukhamar panchayat under Sadar block of Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi district as water submerged farmland following a breach in right canal embankment of Indravati dam on Sunday.

The 15 feet breach was witnessed around 17 km from Bhawanipatna town. Paddy and other crops in more than 50 acres in different stages of growth have been reportedly submerged.

Farmers said a breach was also seen at the same place last year and later it was repaired by the officials as a temporary measure. They alleged that low quality work and apathy of officials caused the breaches.

One farmer who went to his farmland in the morning saw the water had already inundated his crop.

Balabhadra Bhoi, who cultivated paddy in four acres of land on sharing basis, demanded compensation against his crop loss.

A fish farmer, Sumanta Pradhan, told the media that he had bred 40,000 fish in two ponds. But everything got washed away by the canal water. Other farmers also alleged of cotton crop loss following the breach.

Assistant engineer of right canal Narasingh Prasad Mohanty said steps have been taken to plug the breach. “A gate at Banmalipur has been closed and efforts will be made to resume release of water in the canal soon”, he said, adding that last year the breach was repaired temporarily and estimates have been given to higher authorities for repair of the canal permanently.