Bihar man digs 5-km canal to bring water to his village


Patna, Sep 13 (IANS): Reminding once again what a lone determined person can do if he sets out to achieve what he has aimed for, a man in Bihar's Gaya district has dug up a 5-km-long canal in 20 years to bring irrigation water to the fields in his village.

The feat of Loungi Bhuiyan, a resident of Kolithwa village on the border of Imamganj and Bankebazar blocks, makes one recall the toil of 'Mountain Man' Dashrath Manjhi, another native of Bihar who cut a road through a hill near his village in 22 years.

Loungi was pained by the migration of youths from his drought-hit Kolithwa village, which was drought-prone as it did not get to retain sufficient rainwater for irrigation due to its geographical location. The village is around 80 km from Gaya city, surrounded by forest area.

Since there were no job avenues except agriculture, a large number of village's youths migrated to bigger cities in search of livelihood. Bhuiya was unhappy that mostly women and children were left behind in his village.

Village headman Vishnupat Bhokta said: "In August 2001, he decided to dig a canal (Paain in local language) from a natural water source in Bagetha Sahwasi forest to the village. The villagers took their cattle generally to that source for watering, which also provided sustenance to the animals living in the forest area. Loungi knew that the water source was enough to irrigate the agricultural land of the villagers. However, it was a great challenge to bring water into the village."

"Loungi did a survey of the land and earmarked the canal route. After working relentlessly for 20 years, he managed to dig the canal that is four feet wide and three feet deep," Bhokta said.

"Just like Dashrath Manjhi, the villagers called him 'mad' when he went daily to dig the canal with traditional digging equipment," the headman said.

"Keeping in view of his herculean efforts, the district administration also came forward with aid. The administration has now named it Loungi Canal. He also dig up a small pond (Aahar in local language) to store water in the summers for irrigation and domestic consumption."

Dashrath Manjhi cut out a road in the middle of a mountain in his native village Gehlaur with just a hammer and chisel in 22 years from 1960 to 1982. Due to his untiring efforts, the distance between Gahlaur and Wazirganj was reduced from 55 km to just 15 km.

 

 

  

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Comment on this article

  • juliana, udupi

    Sun, Sep 13 2020

    Indian villagers have to toil hard for daily bread. Some machineries here and there could save this hard work in a world where the man is flying to the moon. Basic amenities if taken care of in villages, many migrations to cities seeking jobs can be avoided.

    DisAgree Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mohan Prabhu,, Mangalore (Kankanady)/Ottawa, Canada

    Sun, Sep 13 2020

    Truly heroic and selfless act of kindness to his village people and an example of what one person can do if the person is determined to the end. He deserves Bharat Ratna more than any one else just as his predecessor role model, Dashrath Manjhi, the unsung hero, not some of those who got it but cannot anywhere close to the feat of these two persons - many were patronages.

    DisAgree Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Shameer, Riyadh

    Sun, Sep 13 2020

    Shame on the governments. He knew that begging to governments is useless.

    I would anytime chose this guy as my prime minister.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sun, Sep 13 2020

    True Aatmanirbar ...

    DisAgree Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • francis lobo, Mangalore

    Sun, Sep 13 2020

    The tragedy is nobody noticed this for 30 years. Our politicians come every 5 years for asking for votes and go away. The local government administration might have been blind to see how much effort this person putting. If the right government authority was there he could have employed the right machinery and money to dig a canal and store water.

    Although I appreciate the work , but 30 years of human life was wasted in a work which could have been done in a period of 2- 3 months. Govt makes schemes like MNREGA and NREGA and this person toils for 30 years without any assistance. There was another Majhi in Jharkhand who cut a mountain single-handedly to make a road for his village. We celebrated it through the movie but forgot that personal effort and life.

    DisAgree Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Hindustani, Manipal/Dubai

    Sun, Sep 13 2020

    Great Job

    GOD BLESS

    JAI HIND

    DisAgree [1] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse


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