A 25 feet breach in Sasan main canal has again panicked the farmers since it is the peak time of intiation for the dalua crop in the entire Hirakud command area. However, a timely action by the authorities has averted a major loss.

As per information, a breach occurred near Pandri village just 200 metres. “Since it was day time, we got the news immediately and closed the main gate from the dyke. Hence water flow was totally stopped and situation was brought under control,” informed the executive engineer of Sambalpur canal division RK Ghadei.

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“There has been a crop loss in only 20/30 acres since the breach has occurred near a forest area with less cultivated land,” he added. It is further learnt that the affected land belong to government land where the farmers are cultivating since long.

For that reason no farmer also came forward to make any complain. But it is a fact the farmers in the tail end near Huma and Dhama are sure to suffer a lot due to the breach as the repairing work will surly take two/three days.

“Earlier a breach near Talab on 12 February created similar situation since water discharge through canal was stopped for seven days. This time the same situation is also going to occur,” apprehends Bibhu Patnaik a resident of Sasan cum the Pani Panchayat apex president of Sasan main canal.

Patnaik further alleged that no major repairing has been made to Sasan main canal since last 10 years. “The civil disobedience movement in 2007 was organized for Sasan canal only protesting water to industries since there was every possibility of Sasal canal coming to the suffering end. If neglect to Sasan canal continues like this, then a movement of similar gravity for the greater interest of the farmers could not be ruled out,” Patnaik warned.

However, realizing the gravity of today’s situation the collector Mr Samarth Verma, sub collector PK Sahu and Tehsildar visited the spot. The superintendent engineer GC Gas, executive engineer RK Ghadei and all other officials of Sasan canal are remaining present at the breach site to monitor the repairing works and bring back normalcy as early as possible. “We will do it in a day or two,” the executive engineer Ghadei said.