Jagtial: 60 quintal paddy swept away in Mission Bhagiratha water

Jagtial: Due to breach in the Mission Bhagiratha pipeline, around 60 quintal of paddy that was kept in the sun for drying at the purchasing centre was washed away in the water at Buggama mandal in Jagtial district on Saturday.

According to sources, the roads which were dug up for the laying of pipelines and the works which were carried out for removing the old pipelines and the drainage canals all were spoiled as works were kept in pending for the past few months at many places across the district.

The new pipelines which were laid at some places are not up to high standards due to which now and then leakages occur that lead to the inconvenience to the people and passersby.

The farmers from the surrounding villages of Buggaram mandal had brought the food grains to the purchasing centre. As the officials had asked them to dry their produce, they were doing the same.

But in the late hours on Friday night, the breach occurred in the Mission Bhagiratha pipeline which passes through the purchasing centre and the food grains that were laid there swept away with water into the nearby SRSP canal.

Learning about the incident, the farmers and their family members who rushed to the purchasing centre started crying and questioned the officials of Mission Bhagiratha, and contractors who took up the works under the project for not maintaining the standards in works. They also questioned the IKP officials for not buying the produce and impose restrictions.

The farmers alleged that around 375 quintals of paddy were soaked in water resulting in huge loss to them. They demanded the government and officials concerned to do justice to them.

Meanwhile, the IKP officials assured the farmers that they would purchase all the produce that was soaked in water and Mission Bhagiratha officials also assured the farmers that they would pay Rs1, 20,000 to the farmers for about 60 quintals of paddy which was washed away in the water.