Khuga breaches again, puts paddy fields at risk
Source: The Sangai Express

Lamka, August 05, 2012: The infamous Khuga Dam's eastern canal breached early today at 3.5 km amidst optimism that the dam would finally deliver the much needed breather for the 15,000 hectares of farmland located within its irrigational area that have largely been overwhelmed by rainfall deficit.

About a couple hectares of standing crops and some fish-ponds have felt the immediate impact of the rupture that according to nearby residents occurred at around 3 am.

The impact would however swell gradually if the canal is not restored in the next two to three days as the canal serves as the only source of water, following the failed monsoon, for the vast paddy fields located along the canal.

Water flowing through the canal has been strictly regulated by the department following a spate of breaches ever since it began functioning some years back, but confronted by a threat of crop failure after the huge deficit in rainfall, they have deregulated the exercise.

This eventually facilitated farming activities on about 15,000 hectares of land.

Just as these irrigated lands resumed activities and the farmers as well as the Government were optimistic about its outcome, the breach occurred, forcing the farmers to once again tread along a thin line.

Failure to restore the canal very soon would push back the farmers to the same predicament they faced before water flow through the canal was deregulated.

CCpur's sorrow: The breached stretch of the Khuga canal

'We will be in a tricky situation, depending only on luck.

God willing, He will let it rain.

Otherwise we will have nothing to reap,' a farmer who was on the site said on the prospect of his farm if the canal was not restored in time.

Another farmer, Seipao Misao declared that he would not hesitate to begin a hunger strike if the Government fails to restore the canal within three days.

'We will be starving anyway if the canal is not restored,' he asserted.

It was not just the farm-land that is located beyond the 3.5 kms that would be affected.

Those that are located within the dam and the breached point will be affected as well once the gate of the dam is closed.

About one-fourth of the irrigated lands are fed by the eastern canal.

Another intriguing incident following the cave-in is the failure to close the dam's gate even after 12 hours.

Water, as such, continues to flow along the canal even in the afternoon today widening the breached area and mounting its devastation.

The IFC Department has blamed power (electricity) supply for their inaction, saying it does not receive the required full-phase.

The electricity department is working over-time to fix the anomaly, said a source.

Singngat MLA GS Haopu, and two local MDCs have visited the site and reportedly assured to restore the canal in time while also promising compensation to the devastated land owners.

The JAC of Khuga Dam has taken the opportunity to drive home their argument that Khuga Dam is 'sub-standard'.

"The JAC has run from pillar to post but no one is paying heed to our calls; Ministers, MLAs and MDCs have frequently visited the project but nothing new transpired.

The dam only devastates the people and their land.

It even left the contractors debtridden.

What good is a dam that only serves as a trap", the JAC said.