JEYPORE: The contractors, who have been preventing repair works of Dhanpur canal system under Upper Kolab project for the last five days for non-payment of their dues, relented on Tuesday after the Chief Construction Engineer assured them of ensuring the payment by November 14.
Earlier in the day, tension escalated in the area after the contractors again stopped the officials of Water Resources Department from taking up repair work.
A major portion of canal got damaged five days back in Dhanpur distributary system affecting irrigation to over 10 acres of crop land. The department officials who rushed to repair the damage on Monday were prevented by the contractors from going ahead with their work.
On Tuesday also, the officials were not allowed to take up repair. Soon, hundreds of farmers of Umuri, Dhanpur, Gaganapur, Kaligam, Anta and Ghatbagara areas rushed to the spot and requested the contractors to allow the officials to resume the repair work in the greater interest of farmers. However, some contractors did not relent and both the groups were engaged in verbal duel.
To bring the situation under control, Upper Kolab Project Works Executive engineer PR Dash and some senior officials sought the intervention of Chief Construction Engineer (CCE). The CCE assured of taking up the matter with the higher authorities and ensure their payment by November 14 following which the contractors agreed to allow the officials to start repair work from Wednesday.
Dash told mediapersons that the payment of contractors was held up due to some problem at the Government level and it would be cleared soon.