Mangaluru: The flash flood and landslides that damaged houses and crops in the first week of August, have also wrecked the embankments of vented dams and the channels that feed fields and plantations leaving farmers worried.
These have to be repaired and restored at the earliest to store and feed water to the fields for the coming months.
The flash floods in the Western Ghats on August 9 had brought with it huge amount of soil, sand, stones and trees from the Western Ghats. While the immediate effect was that it flooded houses and crops, it also severely damaged the embankments of vented dams and also the channels supplying water to the fields.
According to the minor irrigation department, the embankments of 87 vented dams have been damaged causing a loss of Rs 35.77 crore.
The maximum loss was in Belthangady Taluk where in several places the course of the rivers has changed and vented dams are filled with sand!
In Belthangady 38 dams have been damaged resulting in a loss of Rs 25.25 crore. Though 33 projects have been damaged in Sullia the amount of loss is comparatively less with Rs 5.22 crore.
As the minor irrigation department’s vented dams also works as bridges and help in providing connectivity in these villages, the department is undertaking emergency works.
"The rivers have changed their path and embankments have been damaged. We have taken up emergency work to set right connectivity. For permanent works in the district we have asked the government to provide Rs 36 crore," a minor irrigation department AEE told Deccan Chronicle.
