Following rains for the past two days, a 20-feet-long breach developed on the Indravati Mega Lift canal near Majhiguda village in Kalahandi district’s Koksara block late on Friday night.
The mega irrigation project had been inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on January 14 which irrigates large acres of farmlands in Koksara and Dharmagarh blocks in the district. It was for the first time that water from the canal was released for the hitherto non-irrigated lands.
After the canal breach, water entered into hundred of hectares of farmland flowing above three feet, for which farmers are in distress as paddy saplings were washed away. They alleged that substandard works caused the breach and cracks had been seen on the canal embankment a few days after the inauguration of the project. Dharmagarh Sub-Collector Pawar Sachin Prakash said three villages have been inundated along with farmlands; and within 48 hours, the canal would be repaired.