Saline water ingressed into the agriculture fields of Daruora, Khamarsahi and Balarampur villages of Iswarpur GP in Kendrapada district following an eight-feet-long breach that occurred on the weak saline embankment of Patasala river at Singadalia on Saturday.
As a result, about 400 acres of agricultural land was inundated with saline water.
Farmers of three villagers are going to be affected as they had sowed paddy seeds in order to raise kharif paddy in their fields. Rajnagar MlA Ansuman Mohanty on Saturday visited the spot in order to take a look into the situation.
Mohanty alleged that due to the negligence and callous attitude of the concerned authority of saline embankment division saline water entered into the field by making a breach.
last year, a breach had occurred on the said spot and the farmers had faced a heavy loss of around 1000 acres of paddy crops following the saline water breach.
later, the concerned authorities failed to do permanent repair work and sealed the breach by taking temporary measures after packing sand bags.
As a result, the saline water of Patasala River once again entered into the fields by making breach on the weak embankment. The weak embankment was in a dilapidated condition over the years and the culverts needed repair work, said MlA Mohanty.
When contacted, Executive Engineer of Ali Saline Embankment Jugal Kishore Tripathy stated that he is yet to be informed about the breach in the Balarampur embankment. The State Advisory Committee has approved the proposal for strengthening and raising the height of the embankment of Patasala river at Balarampur. An estimated fund of `5.71 crore is going to be spent and the NABARD is going to provide the funds. After the end of rainy season, the saline embankment strengthening work would start, he said.