Families homeless after canal water enters villages

Several families were rendered homeless in Chakulia and Baharagora blocks under the Ghatsila sub-division of East Singhbhum district as villages under Ghoramara and Purnapani panchayats were inundated today, said JMM MLA-cum-chief spokesman, Kunal Sarangi.
The inundation was caused after a canal constructed under Swarnarekha Multi-purpose project (SMP) was breached due to heavy rains during the last two days and submerged several villages under Ghoramara panchayat of Chakulia block and Purnapani panchayat in Baharagoraha block of the sub-division, Sarangi, who represent the Baharagora constituency in the state Assembly, said
The JMM leader said four villages in these panchayats have been completely submerged.

Sarangi regretted that no government official have turned up to take stock of the situation till he spoke to the Commissioner of Kolhan Commissionary.
A Block Development Officer came, but he too was helpless in front of the grievous situation, Sarangi said while accusing the sub-standard material utilised in the construction of the canal.
The damage would have been more had the villagers not cut out part of a concrete road to divert the canal water gushing in, he claimed.

There was no concrete lining in the canal but soil, which washed away in heavy rains during the last two days, he said admitting situation would have been worst had there been more rains today.

The sub-division had received 100.8 mm of rainfall during the last two days.
Describing the SMP as "white horse", the JMM leader demanded a proper enquiry after an FIR was lodged against the contractor and officials concerned.
He said hundreds of acres of agriculture land was inundated and crops damaged after the canal water entered the fields.
When contacted in this regard, Sub-Divisional Officer (Ghatsila), B P Singh said the situation was not alarming and the district administration was keeping a vigil.
Barring inundation of couple of villages due to heavy rains, the situation was well under control as there was no rain since last night, he said.

The Sub-divisional Officer of Dalbhum, Alok Kumar said the administration was already on alert even though water level in river Kharkhai and Swarnarekha, which were flowing above the danger mark, was receding.