Bargi Dam’s Left Bank Canal not in good shape
| Date :02-Jun-2019 |
By Ashish Rajput:
Deteriorating condition of Rani Avanti Bai Lodhi Sagar Pariyojana Bargi Dam’s Left Bank Canal (LBC) is vulnerable for any major incident due to absence of its maintenance. Sheering negligence of higher authorities the condition of Bargi LBC has been worsened and now its maintenance become a costly affair for Narmada Valley Development Corporation (NVDA). Recent incident of collapsing 20-feet bank of the canal in Gotegaon mirrors the seriousness of NVDA in ensuring timely maintenance of canal.
If sources are to believe, maintenance work always lingered due to insufficient budget but now the authorities will have to face dual trouble of distributing compensation to farmers amounting to more than Rs. 15,000 crore in addition to the construction of damaged portion and maintenance of canal. Surprising is the fact that the left bank canal was constructed more than three decades back before the establishment of Bargi Dam but its maintenance could not take place due to lackadaisical working of the competent authorities.
State Minister for NVDA, Surendra Singh Baghel, while talking to ‘The Hitavada’, informed that a team of experts is conducting survey of Bargi Left Bank Canal and action will be taken accordingly. NVDA will take all sorts of measures for averting further repetition of such incidents and enhancing irrigation facility for farmers. Bargi LBC, Chief Engineer, Balveer Singh Dhurve, informed to this newspaper that the construction of damaged portion was started on Saturday. Till the restoration work will be completed, water supply through the canal will be averted.
Efforts are being made to complete the construction of damaged portion within stipulated time. He admitted that monitoring of damaged portions could not take place due to growth of weeds on the banks of canal. Former officers forwarded several proposals to the State Government but insufficient budget hindered maintenance work. Small tenders have been invited for repairing and maintenance works but there is a need to clean bushes and repairing of minor damages to ensure better maintenance of canal.
