Taking strict action against those responsible for construction of a sub standard dam which was reportedly washed away in recent rains in Balrampur district, the State Government suspended three officials of the water resources department including executive engineer Monday.
Notably, at Ramchandrapur in Balrampur district lodha dam was constructed at the cost of Rs9 crore which was reportedly washed away in the heavy rains that lashed the area for last few days. After reviewing the situation and gathering first hand reports, Water Resources department Minister Ramvichar Netam Monday suspended three officials—executive engineer, SDO and a sub engineer of the department who were involved in construction of the dam. Netam also ordered an enquiry in to the entire case.
It is worth mentioning that Surguja division is lashed by incessant rains for the last two days leading to all its rivers and rivulets in being in spate. lodha dam, which was constructed only last year, was also brimming and on Saturday it was washed away in the rain water.
Due to breach in the dam, large areas in its vicinity was inundated leading to damage to standing paddy crop in at least 50 acres of land besides more than a dozen houses were submerged. The flash flood created panic in the area as people are trying to save their houses and crops. A team of officials of the water Resources department has left for the area on the directives of Netam.
Chief engineer (Monitoring) P R Chourasia said breach in the newly constructed dam was a serious issue which would be probed by a committee and also the quantum of damage due to this would be calculated. Till the report of probe comes, no detail of damage is available with the department, he added.
The dam site is 140 km away from Ambikapur and to take stock of the situation a team of water resources department has already left for the site. Meanwhile, Departmental sources rejected the allegation that the dam was completely washed away saying only after the enquiry report actual quantum of damage to the dam could be known.