Complete damage of three check dams constructed on a stream recently by the Minor Irrigation (MI) department in Sinapali block has caused resentment in the area. The department had constructed the check dams across the Medhanala stream under Khairpadar Panchayat.
All the dams had been constructed within 1 km stretch of the stream. The works were completed just before the rains, but they were washed away during the rains. The department officials argued that the damage was caused only due to heavy downpour but they did not attribute it to the sub-standard construction. “The dams could not withstand the force of water flow due to heavy rain,” they explained.
The dams were constructed in Kaintpadar village at an expenditure of over Rs17 lakh. “The contractor and the engineer never visited the site; the mason and the labourers were the contractor as well as engineer,” said the villagers who have incurred huge loss as water breached the embankment near the dams and washed away their crop
fields. It is learnt that the SDO who is in charge of Sinapali block does not stay at Sinapali, resulting in less supervision of works in the block.
The villagers alleged that there was no need of check dams on the sites where they have been built. “Construction of dams within a short stretch has caused breaching of the embankments of the stream, which has resulted in maximum damage of crop lands,” they complained, saying that while the process to construct the dam was initiated, the farmers had suggested construction of the embankment at least on the north side of the stream.
“I told them to construct earthen check dam on both sides of the stream near the check dams, but they did not listen to me,” said Thakur Majhi of Kaintpadar. The structure was built on hand broken metal concrete and there is no chip concrete work. The estimate of the works says that 40 mm crusher metal should be used for the concrete
but there is no trace of this. Interestingly, the contractor has not even used iron as per the requirement, he informed.
The work has been done by contractor laxmichand Mittal of Babebir village. However, he is not the person who has taken the contract. It is Manjulata Sagaria who has signed the agreement. Mittal is the dummy of Sagaria who actually did the works, a few villagers said.
Meanwhile, the Minor Irrigation Executive Engineer (EE) admitted that the quality of work is not according to the plan. But the people pointed out that there is a flaw in design. They complained that the depth of foundation of the dam is less than 3 feet, where as it should have been more than 7 feet.
When the EE assured that the dams would be repaired through flood grant, the villagers opposed it. “These check dams are of no use. It will not irrigate a single acre of land. They should be dismantled,” they argued.
With a view to boost irrigation, the State Government has decided to provide irrigation facilities to at least 35 per cent of the cultivable land in each block. According to official figures, Khariar block in Nuapada district has already achieved the target. The Irrigation department seems to be in a hurry to achieve the target in other blocks of the
district.
“Doing such unproductive works would not solve any purpose. It is treachery to the people as well as to the Government. The Government should initiate strong action against the people involved in the corruption,” demanded Sanjay Tiwari of Khariar.