Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)
Kundapur, Mar 30: Although only two more months are left before the expected advent of monsoon season, none of the departments have begun to make prepatations for facing the rainy season. The irrigation department in particular, has shown utter neglect towards undeartaking repair works for the canals of Varahi irrigation project. People living on both sides of the canals, who already have a handful of problems at hand to tackle during monsoon months, are worried that the departments will heap further woes on them by way of additional rainy season blues by their inaction.
A breach at the 23rd km of Varahi canal near Basabail had inflicted huge losses to farmers and their agricultural land last year. Neither the department concerned nor the government have taken the initiative to compensate the concerned for this loss. As revetment had not been provided for about 125 metres at this section of the canal, the canal had breached, washing away about nine acres of areca plantation and paddy fields. Clay from the canal had flooded the fields, burying wells, pond, and pump sets under it.
The revenue department has remained mum after disbursing compensation at the rate of Rs 2,000 per acre in case of loss to paddy fields. No officials followed up the promise made by them earlier to compensate the farmers fully. Officials of Varahi irrigation project, which also used one-and-a-half acres of private land additionally in the village, have not done anything to pay compensation to the people concerned although they have visited their office hundreds of times.
The department has closed the breach by using the same clay, but no repairs or revetment construction have been undertaken. As the canal at 24th km is located in an elevated location, the canal is sure to breach again this time, and 45 families living near will be again distressed, rue the locals.
Unless repairs are undertaken by the departments and revetment is not provided, the agriculture in the region will surely get destroyed. People expect people's representatives and MLA to bring pressure on the department ti take necessary steps. Farmers are determined to sit in dharna in front of the office of the district deputy commissioner if needful is not done immediately. If this also fails to get any result, they say, they will think of committing suicide en masse.
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