A major irrigation lapse in Narmadapuram district has led to severe agricultural damage after water overflow from the Tawa canal flooded nearly 40 acres of farmland in the Shukkarwada Kalan area of Makhannagar tehsil. The incident, which occurred late Friday night, has left more than ten farmers grappling with the loss of their moong crops, raising serious concerns about accountability within the irrigation department.

Farmers Report Overnight Damage

Local farmers stated that the situation escalated quickly as water from the canal began spilling into nearby fields during the night. Despite repeated alerts to irrigation officials, including the sub-engineer and senior officers, no immediate corrective action was taken. By morning, large portions of farmland were submerged, turning productive fields into waterlogged patches and causing irreversible crop damage.

Farmer Anil Gaur shared that officials had assured them that the water flow would be controlled, but the promises did not translate into action. By the time water levels were reduced, nearly 30 to 35 acres had already been affected, with the total damage later estimated at around 40 acres.

Multiple Farmers Affected, Losses Mount

The flooding has impacted several farmers in the region, including Parvati Bai, Santosh, Shishupal, Daryav Singh, Saraswati, Shailendra Gaur, Jugal Kishore, Vishnu, Rishi, Chunty Lal, Ravindra Singh, and others. The affected farmers emphasized that moong is a high-investment crop, and its destruction has placed them under financial stress.

They also pointed out that similar incidents had occurred in the past. Last year, wheat crops were damaged due to excessive water release from the same canal, yet no significant action was taken against responsible officials.

Officials Admit Monitoring Failure

When contacted, Executive Engineer Pratibha Singh acknowledged that the overflow caused the flooding but avoided explaining how the situation was allowed to occur. The call was reportedly disconnected when further questions were raised.

Sub-Divisional Officer P.N. Dayama later admitted that the issue arose due to excessive water release from the Semri Harchand side. He confirmed that improper monitoring by officials and staff led to the overflow. According to him, steps were taken during the night to reduce the water flow, and the situation was expected to stabilize by Saturday afternoon.

Growing Concerns Among Farmers

Farmers in the region have expressed frustration over repeated negligence and the lack of preventive measures. They fear that if water flow is not completely stopped, the flooding could extend to nearby fields, causing further damage. Many are now demanding compensation and strict action against those responsible for the lapse.

The incident highlights ongoing challenges in irrigation management and the need for better monitoring systems to prevent recurring losses for farmers.