Villagers throw irrigation official’s car in Sani dam in Jamnagar

Jamnagar, 6 September, 2011

Eight villages of Kalyanpur and Dwarka talukas of Jamnagar district were alerted for possible situation of flood on Tuesday after two gates of Sani dam broke open.

Due to breach in the dam, the villagers were so angry that they pushed and threw a Jeep car of irrigation department official into the dam.

Villagers were angry because Sani dam’s 10-number gate that broke open today was actually repaired just three months back at a cost of over Rs. 1 crore(according to unconfirmed data Rs 3 crore).

The gate in question was repaired before onset of current monsoon. Last year during monsoon it has caused flood in several villages located in downstream area. In the incident of breach last year, two engineers responsible for repair and maintenance were suspended.

However even after repairing of gates and actions taken, today when dam was again filled to capacity, two gates including gate no.10 that was repaired three months back (left arm of the radial gate) came off from its hinges as the screws attaching the gate loosened due to water pressure.

As the gate has broken again, people residing in low-lying areas of villages are likely-to-be-affected and therefore they are asked to move to safer places. May fields in these villages are also likely to be affected due to water flowing towards Arabian sea from Sani dam due to breach.

Last year when the gate broke open, the administration had opened all gates of the dam of the dam having the capacity of containing 1,600 million cubic feet. All water was emptied and therefore villages in downstream area experienced flood. Not only this, but the villages couldn’t get water from Sani dam in summer when there was a need for irrigation purpose.

Updates:

On 9th of September when a group of farmers led by district level Congress leaders was on way to submit memorandum to the Chief Minister on Sani dam issue, when CM was in Jamnagar to attend a function, they were detained at saat rasta circle and were sent to police head quarter. However Congress MP Vikram Madam was released because he had to attend the function of CM. Congress MP attended the function wearing black strip in protest.

It should be mentioned that local police has filed complaint against the farmers in Kalyanpur police station with charges including attempt of murder, obstruction in government duty, and Rs 3 lakh loss due to damage in car that was thrown in the dam. A complaint was filed by government engineer C.P.Hiadiyel against Moti Paneli’s former sarpanch Naran Bela, sarpanch Markhibhai, Desurbhai, Naranbhai, Arshibhai, Arshi Chavda, Sagan Mer, Hamirbhai Mer, Ghelabhai and a group of about 100 persons.