A new 25 foot breach in the Sasan Main Canal has again spread panic among the farmers since it is the peak time of the Dalua crop in the entire Hirakud command area. However, a timely action by the authorities averted a major loss. The breach occurred near Pandri village on Friday morning.
“Since it was day time, we got the news immediately and closed the main gate from the dyke. Hence, water flow was totally stopped and situation was brought under control,” informed executive engineer of Sambalpur canal division RK Ghadei.
“There has been a crop loss in only 20/30 acres since the breach has occurred near a forest area with less cultivated land,” he added.
It is further learnt that the affected land belongs to the Government where the farmers are cultivating since long. For that reason, no farmers also came forward to make any complaint.
But it is a fact the farmers in the tail end near Huma and Dhama are sure to suffer a lot due to the breach as the repairing work will surly take two-three days.
“Earlier a breach near Talab on February 12 had created similar situation since water discharge through canal was stopped for seven days. This time, the same situation is also going to occur,” apprehended Bibhu Patnaik, a resident of Sasan. Patnaik further alleged that no major repairing has been made to Sasan main canal in last ten years for which such incidents are happening in quick intervals.
However, realising the gravity of the situation, Collector Samarth Verma, Sub Collector PK Sahu and the local Tehsildar visited the spot.
Superintendent Engineer GC Gas, Executive Engineer RK Ghadei and all other officials of Sasan canal were present at the breach site to monitor the repairing works and bring back normalcy as early as possible.