JEYPORE: An 100-metre stretch of irrigation canal in Koraput district vanished over night. The matter came to light when the local pani panchayat leaders visited the spot on Tuesday. An engineering institute has been accused of destroying the canal and encroaching upon the area under Upper Kolab project. A team led by Jeypore Divisional Junior Engineer Dibakar Behera inspected the site, on Wednesday and lodged an FIR against the institute in Jeypore Sadar police station. Official sources said the main canal from Ekamba to Umuri was built about 20 years back for irrigating over 500 acres under Umuri and Ekamba panchayats. The farmers received water during both the rabi and kharif seasons.However, following repair and maintenance of the canal, the authorities had not supplied water this rabi season. Taking advantage of the situation, the engineering institution allegedly demolished the canal system up to 100 metre. “It was a shocker and would affect livelihood of 100 tribal families in the area,” rued Goverdhan Nayak, the president of Umuri pani panchayat. Meanwhile, the apex committee of pani panchayat has demanded an inquiry into the matter and immediate restoration of the canal system.
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