HASSAN: Deputy Commissioner V Anbukumar on Monday sought a detailed report from the executive engineer of Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited (CNNL) on the breach of the Hemavathi left bank canal.
The DC visited Nagasamudra village of Channarayapatna taluk where the canal breached on Sunday morning. Several houses, properties and standing crops have been damaged due to floods in the area. Interestingly, the Major Irrigation Department had spent `2.5 crore to strengthen the lining of the canal at same spot recently.
Sources said the contractor who did the lining work had used 8 mm thick iron rods instead of 12 mm for construction. The work had been completed a couple of days ago and is yet to be cured. The constructed part was washed away when Hemavathi dam authorities released 2,300 cusecs water following pressure by engineers of Tumkur division, the sources added.
Coconut, banana and paddy over hundreds of acres in Bandihalli, Kalenahalli and Marenahalli were submerged and seven houses were damaged due to floods.
Alleging substandard works, the villagers and farmers staged a dharna in front of the executive engineer’s office attached to CNNL in Channarayapatna on Monday. They blamed both the engineer and contractor for the incident.