Ranchi, June 12: After over a decade's wait, water from Kansjore dam has started running down the canal, promising round-the-year flow that will help irrigate 10,000 acres of farmland in Tamra panchayat of Pakartand block, some 10km from Simdega district headquarters.
Currently, dam water is flowing up to 17km, as against the complete length of 28km, through the canal, which was thrown open yesterday after repairs based on techniques followed in Punjab and Harayana.
The ambitious Kansjore dam, approved by the then Planning Commission in 1981 and completed in the early 90s, had failed to provide two square meals to farmers till last year, forcing them to move out of the state in search of livelihood.
About eight months ago, some villagers had called on Simdega DC Vijoy Kumar Singh and urged him to repair the canal. They promised to take care of the maintenance work on their own.
DC Singh promptly agreed to repair the 28km-long canal, and his earnest efforts rekindled hopes of over 1,700 farmers. "The ground work began in December last year. Over 200 labourers worked for around six months to complete the work that cost us around Rs 52 lakh. We are now trying our best to repair the remaining 11km stretch at the earliest," Singh said over phone.
Local villagers said the canal had been repaired following the technique used in states like Punjab and Haryana. "There, a proper slope is maintained in canals so that water flows through the duct as far as possible without the use of any pump. It helps maintain the flow throughout the year and also allows canal water to reach farmland with minimum effort and cost," said a villager.
To further improve irrigation facilities in the panchayat, around 46 dobas (farm ponds) are being dug up to store rainwater.
Four deep-boring tube-wells have been installed, which will become functional soon, while non-functional electric poles will be replaced soon.
"Agriculture fields located along the canal will not need pump sets for irrigation. The villagers have promised to remove all possible blockages in the way during the rainy season to allow the canal water to flow into the farmland. For fields located far away from the canal, dobas and deep-borings will be of great help. People can apply for more dobas on vacant land," the DC said.
