Karnataka - Gulbarga   

Canal breach adds to farmers’ woes

Irrigation stalled: Breached portion of Mudbal Branch Canal in Upper Krishna Project in Jewargi taluk in Gulbarga district on Tuesday

GULBARGA: In yet another blow to the beleaguered farmers of Gulbargs, a major breach in Mudbal Branch Canal (MBC) near 39th km in the Upper Krishna Project in Jewargi taluk has deprived more than 20,000 hectares of land of irrigation in the down stream of MBC.

The MBC, providing irrigation to more than 45,000 hectares of land in Shahapur and Jewargi taluks, breached at the left embankment of the aqueduct on the Mudwal streak on Monday afternoon leaving a gap of more than five metres in the canal.

The gushing water washed away the earthen embankment on the left side where the aqueduct joined the main canal.

Executive engineer of Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigama Ltd (KBJNL) Ashok Kumar, attached to MBC division, and other officials refused to give any information citing that they were not allowed to talk to the press.

However, a senior official, on condition of anonymity, told The Hindu that the breach would delay water supply to at least 22,000 hectares of land in the command area coming under the 11 distributaries.

However, water would be provided in upstream of the canal through 17 distributaries to other command areas of the branch canal.

The official said the breached canal would be set right within 15 days and the water would be released.

However, farmers of the affected command area, who had thronged the spot, were sceptical about KBJNL authorities’ promise.

Malik Pasha Kattimani of Andola, whose land comes under the command area, said that more than 30 villages would be seriously affected, and farmers who had sown the seeds waiting for release of water would now be doomed if it was not released within 10 days.

Another farmer Mahadev Anabi said that he had invested around Rs. one lakh in his 10 acre of land by sowing BT cotton seeds, buying fertilizers and other inputs, “Now I do not know what will happen with this breach.”

The farmers alleged that KBJNL officials were indifferent towards maintenance of the canal, and closure of all the distributaries and releasing all the water in the canal on Monday was the main reason for the breach.

In different locations including at Andola village, the released water had overflowed from the canal into the agriculture field.

Mr. Kattimani claimed that there was a small leak in the breached portion for three years and despite the farmers informing the officials about it, no repair work had been taken up.

It was observed that at many spots in the canal, silt had not been removed and free flow of water was obstructed at many locations. Cracked portions in the canal lining had also not been repaired.

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