[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
dam-l Bhakhra Main Canal Breach; Extensive Damages: Media reports. (fwd)
Date: Fri, 14 May 1999 07:24:04 +0530
From: Himanshu Thakkar <cwaterp@del3.vsnl.net.in>
Reply-To: cwaterp@del3.vsnl.net.in
Organization: Centre For Water Policy
Subject: Bhakhra Main Canal Breach; Extensive Damages: Media reports.
100-metre breach in Bhakra main canal
Chandigarh, May 13 (HT Correspondent)
Source: Hindustan Times, May 14, 1999.
THE Army was called late last night to plug a 100 metre-wide breach in
the Bhakra Main Line canal in Shatrana area of Patiala district.
The breach has so far submerged nearly 3,000 acres of land in four to
five feet of water. However, no loss of life was reported.
Officials here said about 100 armymen and an equal number of Punjab
Police personnel are working round the clock to plug the breach that was
caused by the blockading of three spans. The spans were clogged by trees
that fell into them after being uprooted by the strong winds that
accompanied the heavy downpour last night.
Eyewitnesses told The Hindustan Times that apart from this wide breach,
there were several small breaches in the main line at several other
places. While there was no spillover from the breaches at the higher
reaches, at least two small breaches of about eight feet wide were
plugged before much damage was done. The breaches occured around 9.30 pm
last night.
District officials said that army was called in to assist the local
administration as the equipment available at local sources was
inadequate. Armymen reached the spot with heavy duty cranes and swiftly
cleared two of the three clogged spans.
Officials said the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) had been also
requested to stop the water discharge in the main line. The water
discharge had not been totally stopped by this evening.
While no loss of life has been reported, property worth lakhs was
destroyed as water submerged nearly 3,000 acres of land in Naiwala
village and its surrounding areas. Officials said even if the blockade
is cleared by tomorrow morning, the water would take at least two to
three days to recede.
Major breach in Bhakra canal, sabotage suspected
Source: Rediff on the net, 140599
The army has been brought in to help plug a 100-metre breach in the
Bhakra main line canal near Patran, which caused flooding of large
tracts of land, after efforts by the district administration proved
futile.
Official sources said the canal broke through some time early today and
the army's help had been sought as the situation had become grave. The
cause of the breach was not immediately known. However, sabotage could
not be ruled out.
A number of deras (settlements) were under waters due to the sudden
flooding.
Senior district and police officials had reached the site and army
personnel had begun an operation to save the deras.
Haryana irrigation engineer-in-chief J K Chug, accompanied by Bhakra
water services chief engineer M G Thukral had also reached Patran to
oversee the breach plugging operations.
The Bhakra main line, with a capacity of around 6,000 cusecs taking off
from Bhakra in Punjab, feeds Haryana and partially Rajasthan.
Haryana irrigation department sources in Chandigarh said the state draws
around 5,500 cusecs from this major canal to feed areas of Hisar and
Sirsa districts.
They said Rajasthan draws about 500 cusecs from the BML.
UNI