Substandard maintenance of water canals has added to water woes of farmers in Kota region of Rajasthan.
Water seepage losses in the area have risen to 35 per cent even as Rs.400 crore have been spent on maintenance. A contractor engineer nexus apparently has been withering away the canal walls.
"It has been noted in several instances the work tender were released at 50 to 60 percent below the estimated cost. What work can be expected at such low rates," Water Resources Minister Ram Pratap has admitted on the question of seepage.
"I have inquired for the tender records of the past five years," the minister said as he admitted that the entire system is in shambles.
Thousands of farmers of the region have to struggle for water on regular basis. The tail end farmers have not yet received the third phase of water this season.
"Each day farmers are agitating in the region for water, despite the fact that if the available water can be saved there is enough water for irrigating every inch of land," Prahlad Gunjal, MLA Kota North, said.
MLA from Kota south Sandeep Sharma shared the same concerns.
"Crops are being destroyed due to scarcity of water, the government must look for immediate relief to farmers," Sharma said.
Meanwhile, an immediate relief is out of sight even as the concerned minister has assured to rapidate the tender process. A sustainable solution to the issue is reclaiming the water being lost in seepage. The government, however, does not have enough funds sanctioned for the purpose.