Nagpur: Kamptee Khairi reservoir’s left bank canal (LBC) suffered a breach at around 7am on Monday, resulting in heavy water loss. This is one of the major sources for city drinking water, as well as irrigation across the district, and is only 35% full despite monsoon coming to an end. The loss of water from the breach is a big worry for the city.
The Water Resources Department (WRD said 2,700 cubic feet per second (cusec) water is being released from LBC for paddy crop since September 23, and was to continue till October 15. Around 8.5 km from the dam, the LBC witnessed a breach near Amdi Phata in Parsheoni tehsil.
WRD officials rushed to the spot and managed to stop discharge of water at around 11am. The water was flowing out of the breach unimpeded for around four hours. Water flowing in the 12km long canal — 8.5km before the breach and 3.5km after it — also went waste.
Rejecting any major water loss, a WRD official told TOI the water flew into a nullah situated adjacent to the canal so there is no question of it going waste. “The nullah joins Kanhan river later, so the water will get used. Also, there was no damage to agriculture fields since some water flowed into a forest area,” he said.
The official added LBC has been partly repaired and discharge of water started. “We are discharging 500 cusec water and will increase it to 1,000 cusec at night. It will be completely repaired by Tuesday afternoon,” he said.
The official also said there had been no signs of breach earlier, but there must have been mild cavitation in the LBC at the breach spot.
WRD official said the state government had sanctioned Rs300 crore for strengthening of LBC and right bank canal (RBC), as part of Rs1,015 crore package announced couple of months ago. “Currently, we are executing works on Kanhan river under the package. Works on LBC and RBC will be taken up soon,” he said.
LBC supplies water up to Mauda tehsil and RBC up to Mahadulla and beyond. Still, the canal’s two sides are of earthen bund with stone pitching. Only bottom level of the canals is of concrete.
