A row has erupted over damage to a portion of the recently constructed Chaudhary minor canal in the Jalalabad segment, with cracks developing at several places and some portions reportedly caving in after recent heavy rainfall.According to official sources, the lining of the 5-km-long canal, which was lying closed since 1969, had been completed, but the construction of a bridge was on.Sources said Rs 5.18 crore was being spent on the construction work. The canal water would irrigate 2,743 acres of land in villages Ghattian Wali Jattan, Ghattian Wali Bodla, Chahlan, Tahliwala Bodla, Singh Pura and Islamwala in the Jalalabad segment.Intriguingly, the inauguration of the incomplete canal was undertaken by Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal during his visit to the area in March this year.Meanwhile, Balwinder Kamboj, Executive Engineer (XEN), was placed under suspension today due to his alleged negligence in duty in this regard.Talking to The Tribune, Kamboj said about 150-200 feet lining had been damaged due to the heavy rainfall. Water had entered some cracked areas. He said water had not been released in the canal so far. He claimed that lining was being repaired and the rectification of the work would be done. The XEN said the construction agency was still on job and everything would be in order before the final release of the water.However, talking to The Tribune contractor Shish Pal Josan said due to the alleged faulty designing, the canal started getting damaged at a few places. He said they had undertaken the construction work as per the site plan.Sukhwinder Singh Kaka Kamboj, district president, BJP, Fazilka unit, has in a statement, alleged that low-quality material has been used in construction of the canal. He also released a video clip in this regard. He has also alleged that there is an involvement of some ruling party leader in this alleged scam along with the department officials, which needed to be probed.
Portion of newly built Chaudhary Canal damaged, XEN suspended
