Sangrur, June 19: A 50-foot breach in the Neelowal canal early Thursday morning submerged around 150 acres of farmland near Khadial village, inflicting severe damage on paddy and maize crops and sparking outrage among local farmers who blamed the irrigation department for negligence.
The breach, reported at around 5 a.m., devastated agricultural plots that were in peak cultivation. Farmers allege they had repeatedly flagged the deteriorating condition of the canal embankment to officials, but no action was taken.
“Last week, we shared photos and videos with the SDO and JE, advising them to regulate the water flow to prevent a structural failure. But our warnings were ignored,” said Satgur Singh, a farmer from Khadial.
Jagdeep Singh, another local farmer, said this wasn’t the first such incident. “The canal has breached multiple times over the past two years. We’ve raised the alarm many times but received only verbal assurances. Now our entire season’s paddy and maize crop is gone—we’re staring at a loss of nearly ₹40,000 per acre,” he said.
According to the farmers, the root of the crisis lies in the excessive discharge of water into an old and weakened canal system. As water levels rose, the aging structure gave way, unleashing a torrent onto fields already sown.
District officials moved into action shortly after the breach was reported. “The SDO, JE, and executive engineer were dispatched to the site immediately. Our first priority was to stop the water flow,” said Sangrur Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Rishi. “We’re using sandbags and logs to plug the breach. That work will finish by evening. Strengthening the embankment will take two more days.”
Rishi also pointed to encroachments by farmers along the canal’s edge as a contributing factor. “I appeal to farmers not to alter or encroach upon the canal’s embankment for private use. Such practices weaken the structure and increase the risk of breaches,” he said.
He assured the affected farmers that compensation would be provided following a damage assessment. “A proper survey will be conducted, and those who have suffered crop loss will be duly compensated,” he added.
