Embankment breach damages potato cultivation

Kendrapara (Orissa), Feb 4 (PTI) Portions of anirrigation canal embankment caved in today causing loss tohundreds of potato cultivators in Chakroda gram panchayat inOrissa''s Kendrapara district.

About 150 acres of agriculture fields taken up forpotato cultivation had suffered extensive to medium rangedamage, district agriculture office sources said.

"A three-foot-long breach occurred on the Gandakia-(A) irrigation canal near Chakroda village leading to water-logging in over a hundred acres of agriculture fields.

"It is being inquired into as to what exactly causedthe breach. The local water users committee has been asked tosubmit a report in this regard," said Jatindra Kumar Das,Executive Engineer, Kendrapara irrigation division.

"The breach occurred due to sub-standard maintenancework. Fund sanctioned for the purpose was misutilised. As aresult, we suffered," alleged Ramesh Jena, a farmer.

"The potato plants were at a matured stage and thetime was ripe for the yield. During this period the plants didnot require water. As the fields are water-logged we areforced to uproot the produce pre-matured. There is going to besharp drop in potato produce," he said.