Sand lifting threatens Taladanda canal

The rising level of the Mahanadi river and soil erosion near the horticulture farm in Tirtol area have created panic among the residents.

Frequent landslides near the coconut farm threaten the Taladanda canal embankment while hundreds of families of Jadtira, Tirtol, Tarjanga and Manijanga panchayats of Tirtol block fear nature’s fury.

An ashram, which was about 30 metre away from the river, submerged with two to three acres under water now. The Taladanda canal is about 200 metres away and locals fear that continuous erosion can threaten its existence.

Locals attributed the problem to frequent sand lifting and rise in the number of brick kilns in the area. Sand pumps and cranes deployed by miners lift several truckloads of sand daily.

Admitting to the problem, an assistant engineer of the Irrigation Department, Tirtol, Prafulla Kumar Kar said frequent sand lifting from the riverbed was the main cause of soil erosion and the department is keeping a strict vigil.

Protesting illegal sand lifting, hundreds of villagers had recently staged a demonstration at Tirtol tehsil.

Meanwhile, Tirtol Tehsildar Pradip Kumar Nayak has served notices to the illegal sand lifters following which the operations have been stopped for the last four days. The Revenue Department had also seized sand and auctioned it for ` 8 lakh.