Hassan: A part of a newly constructed Hemavathi left bank canal breached near?Nagasamudra village on the outskirts of the town and inundated several fields, on Sunday. Crop loss has been reported in over 30 acres of land.
The 350-m long canal was constructed recently at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore.
On Friday night, 2,300 cusecs of water was released into the canal from Gorur dam in Hassan. On Sunday morning, a small hole was noticed at 62nd km of the canal. Later, a major crack appeared on the wall of the canal and it breached, flooding farm lands and several houses.
Incidentally, the water from the canal flooded Marenahallikere (tank) which also breached and inundated the Mysore?Road. A petrol bunk and church too were flooded.
Vehicular movement was disrupted on Mysore Road due to the flooding. However, police camped at the spot and guided motorists. The water from the tank also flooded the road to Kalenahalli, forcing the residents to use an alternative road.
Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Managing Director Jayaprakash, who visited the spot, told media that the old canal in the region was in a dilapidated condition and hence a new canal was constructed. The breach has occurred at the 30th metre of the canal, he added.
“The canal will be repaired in 10 days and the cost will be borne by the contractor who constructed it. If the work is found to be of substandard quality, strict action will be taken against the officers concerned,” he added. Compensation will be given to farmers for the losses.
Jayaprakash said that the Hassan district incharge minister had ordered release of water into the canal, following a demand by legislators from Tumkur district.
A meeting of?the Irrigation Consultative?Committee has been called in this regard in Bangalore on Monday.
Inflow to KRS?reduces
The inflow into the KRS?reservoir in Srirangapatna taluk of Mandya district was 20,965 cusecs on Sunday, down from 29,000 cusecs on Saturday. The outflow was 12,858 cusecs on Sunday. The water level on Saturday was 112.85 feet (maximum level 124.80 feet). It increased only by half a foot on Sunday.
Showers subside
Rains receded across Shimoga on Sunday, leading to lower inflow into dams. The water level at Linganamakki reservoir stood at 1,786 ft, while the inflow into the dam reduced to 29,146 cusecs.
Last year, during the same time, the water level in the dam stood at 1,808 ft.
The water level in the Bhadra reservoir stood at 170.6 ft, while the inflow reduced to 15,547 cusecs. During the corresponding period last year, the water level stood at 182.8 ft.
