JAGATSINGHPUR:Farmers staged demonstration and locked the office of Executive Engineer of Irrigation department here on Tuesday demanding release of water into branch canals of Machgaon canal.
They said paddy saplings were transplanted in some blocks of Jagatsinghpur district in mid-July and if water does not reach the branch canals at the earliest, they will dry up.
Although water has been released in Machgaon canal, it does not reach the branch canals or tail end as the main canal is currently being renovated and many portions face siltation. Even as the Irrigation wing of Agriculture department had assured that irrigation water would reach the branch canals by July 10, that has not been the case.
Protesting this, farmers staged demonstration and accused irrigation officials of being negligent towards their plight. Executive Engineer Umakanta Mohanty assured the farmers that water would be reach the branch canals within five days following which, they called off the stir.