Canal of Konar irrigation project damaged at Bagodar

Giridih: The much talked about Konar Irrigation Project which was dedicated to the people amid much fan fare by Chief Minister Raghubar Das did not even succeed to hold water for even 24 hours as the canal was damaged in Bagodar causing water spillage in acres of farms spread across almost half a dozen villages.

Engineers of the department said that they have got information that the canal was broken at Kusum Raza village in Bagodar block and as a precautionary measure the flow of water has been stopped into the canal and a team has been sent to spot to undertake the repair. Kusum Raza village is located on bordering areas of Bagodar and Sariya.

Villagers told this correspondent that five villages which come under Kusum Raza panchayat have been hit by the damage as the water reached into he fields which destroyed crops worth lakhs and also damage a house and few boundary walls.

Upon receiving information former Bagodar MLA Binod Singh who reached on the spot said that to take credit in the Assembly elections in a hurry the project was inaugurated and demanded the state government to pay compensation for the losses. He said that out of 200 kilometers only on 60 kilometer stretch the can have been constructed and said that if the people had waited for 42 years than they could have waited for another 6 months. On the other hand, sitting MLA Nagendra Mahto had too demanded action for negligence.

Villagers said that after inauguration yesterday when the water was released from the Konar Dam into the canal than it got filled to its maximum capacity till Ghosko and since the embankment of the canal was of mud in the area it could not handle the pressure of the water and broke down due to which water spread in the fields and also destroyed a house.

Meanwhile, Water Resources Minister Ramchandra Sahis has also swung into action and has ordered the engineering head to constitute a probe committee and said that action will be taken against those who would be found guilty. A three-member team has been formed comprising engineers from Ranchi and Hazaribagh to probe into the mishap which has been directed to submit its findings within 24 hours.