Breach in Kandi Canal inundates crops

Hoshiarpur, Feb 25 (UNI) Wheat, mustard and other crops standing in over 200 acres were inundated following a breach measuring 100 ft in the Kandi Canal at RD 9500 near Gagar village today morning.

The floodwater inundated the fields of five villages viz Aaspur, Gagar, Nikku Chack, Ghagowal and Sekhamatta of Hazipur block in Kandi area of this district.

On receiving information, Deputy Commissioner N K Wadhawan along with other officers of the Kandi Canal rushed to the spot to make immediate arrangements for plugging the breach and to assess the situation.

Talking to UNI, after inspecting the site, Mr Wadhawan said that the supply of water from the Shah Nehar to Kandi canal had completely been stopped. The breach in the canal started in the morning at about 0600 hrs. By the time the flow could be stopped in the canal the water had inundated the fields of the five villages.

The water spread in vast stretches in the fields adjoining to the breach site was receding towards a nullah and it was hoped that all the fields would be cleared within 2-3 days, the Deputy Commissioner said, adding that after the water clearance, if needed a special girdawari would be ordered to make the assessment of loss to the standing crops in the area.

Deputy Commissioner has instructed the authorities of the Kandi canal to acquire requisite machinery for immediate plugging of the breach. To ascertain the cause of the breach he had deputed Additional Deputy Commissioner, Hoshiarpur to probe into the incident.

To strengthen the brick embankment of either sides of the Kandi canal, Deputy Commissioner had also sought estimate from the authorities concerned.

UNI XC PS VN1927