Breach in Odisha’s Indravati canal; acres submerged

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhawanipatna, Apr 27:

About hundred acre of agricultural land in Paraja Nagafeni area of Jayapatna block in Odisha’s Kalahandi district has been inundated due to artificial floods following 7.5 feet wide breach in the embankment of the left main canal of Indravati dam today.

Locals have blamed poor quality maintenance work of the embankment to be the reason behind the breach.

“The inundation has damaged standing crops in the fields. Paddy crops, everything is gone. The fields between the river and the canal have been completely washed out,” said Ganga Thakur a farmer.

The district collector, however, assured to conduct an inquiry into the incident.

“We are yet to receive any complaint. No one has complained about poor quality work when the embankment repair work was undergoing. The complaint has come after the incident has taken place. We will conduct an inquiry by forming a technical team. The real fact behind the occurrence will be only known after the inquiry is completed and the report is out. We will send the report to the government and whatever is advised we will do accordingly,” said D Brunda collector Kalahandi in her reactions on the breach in the canal embankment.