Floods Due to Incomplete Korata-Chanaka Project Damage Crops in Adilabad District

The incomplete Korata-Chanaka barrage on the Penganga river has failed to store floodwaters for irrigation, depriving farmers in Adilabad district of water for a second crop while offering little protection against flooding.

The project was designed to lift water from the barrage and supply it through canals and field channels to irrigate 50,000 acres under its ayacut.

However, following heavy rainfall in the upstream areas of neighbouring Maharashtra over the past four days, floodwaters had to be released downstream, inundating standing crops in villages along the Penganga in Bela, Jainad and Bhoraj mandals. According to preliminary estimates by the agriculture department, crops on nearly 5,000 acres have been affected.

Irrigation officials said the barrage could not retain the floodwater because the reservoir and canal network remain incomplete. They said excess water had to be released downstream to protect the bund and gates from damage, as storing large inflows could endanger the structure.

Farmers said standing crops of cotton, soya and redgram were submerged due to the floodwaters released from the barrage. Officials admitted they could not store water based on inflows until the remaining works were completed.

The project is estimated to cost `2,100 crore, of which about `1,200 crore has been spent so far. Officials said another `500 crore would be required to complete the reservoir, field channels and other pending works to make the project fully operational.

The barrage was envisaged to irrigate 50,000 acres and help moderate flood impacts in Adilabad district.

Meanwhile, road connectivity between Digras in Maharashtra and Anandpur in Telangana was disrupted after the Anandpur bridge was submerged under floodwaters.

A senior political leader from Adilabad said farmers had not benefited from the Korata-Chanaka project for the past two years because of the incomplete works. He said farmers downstream continued to suffer flood damage whenever heavy rains occurred in Maharashtra.

He added that even after the project is completed, floodwaters would still need to be released during periods of heavy inflows to protect the barrage. However, completion of the project would at least enable water to be stored for irrigation, helping farmers raise a second crop and partially offset flood-related losses.