The farmers at the tail end of Hirakud Command Area under Sasan canal system now have to struggle for each drop of water to save their standing crop that is at a mature stage.
They alleged that Bishakha Asbestos situated near Parmanpur has been lifting water stealthily from the Sasan canal leading to water scarcity at the tail end for irrigation purpose, particularly for paddy. As a result, paddy that is at a mature stage now, is going to be damaged.
“Using innovative idea, the factory management is stealing water in tankers from the canal near Parmanpur to run their factory. Everyday, they steal more than five lakh litres of water for the factory and the farmers of tail end near Human, Gaudapali and Karanjala etc feel the pinch,” alleged Chittaranaj Biswal, Nirmal Sarangi and many others of the area.
This illegal practice is quite rampant during night time. They further alleged that the factory management has cut down a good number of trees from the Kudopara forest to make roads for the movement of water tankers.
But the management of Bisakha Asbestos denied the allegations. “We use underground water to run the unit. So there is no need to take water from the canal,” said Ranjan Kumar Hota, a senior official of the factory.
Taking water from canal is not new here. Many other industries are also doing the same practice in connivance with the officials of the Water Resources and Revenue departments.