Udupi (The Hindu): There was a breach at the 26th km of Left Bank Canal of Varahi River Irrigation Project at Koykadi Hebbagilu Mane, in Molahalli village, Kundapur taluk on Friday.

It may be recalled that there was a breach at the same point of the canal last Friday (March 17).

However, unlike last week, when about 10 acres of agricultural fields and horticultural plantations were destroyed owing to water gushing out of the breach, there was no destruction this time around, even though water did rush out of the breach.

Uday Kulal, president, Molahalli Gram Panchayat, told The Hindu, that it took about four days to drain the water from the canal after the breach last week.

The work to repair the breach was taken up on March 23 morning and completed by 7 p.m. on the same day.

“However, it is possible that water was unknowingly released into the canal after midnight. The water started gushing out through a small breach at the same place today (March 24) morning. Luckily, there was not much damage this time,” he said.

Since the canal is located on an uplying area, the water from the breach flows downwards. “The authorities of Varahi Irrigation Project stopped the flow of water into the canal by 10 a.m. on Friday,” Mr. Kulal said.

Meanwhile, Shilpa Nag, Assistant Commissioner, told The Hindu that the second breach had caused some damage to the canal structure.

The Deputy Commissioner’s office had already issued a notice to the officers of the Varahi River Irrigation Project seeking an explanation for the breach in the Left Bank Canal that took place on March 17 and on Friday.

“Based on the explanation by the project officers, further action would be taken in the matter. Compensation would be paid to those farmers whose fields and plantations were damaged during the first breach,” Ms. Nag added.