Hindol, Jul 20: The collapse of a gate at the Barajoda Medium Irrigation Project in Odisha's Hindol block following incessant rainfall has left farmers facing a double crisis. While floodwaters have damaged hundreds of acres of farmland, the sudden drainage of the reservoir has sparked fears of water scarcity for irrigation in the coming months.

The Barajoda irrigation project, located in Nuabag Panchayat, is a lifeline for farmers in more than 20 villages, providing irrigation to nearly 1,700 acres of agricultural land. However, heavy rains triggered by a low-pressure system damaged one of the barrage gates, causing the reservoir to empty rapidly. The released water inundated vast stretches of farmland, destroying paddy fields and depositing sand over cultivable land.

Farmers said the flooding has ruined young paddy crops, while sand deposits have rendered many fields unsuitable for cultivation. They are now worried about replanting paddy and restoring their farmland before the sowing season progresses.

The situation has become more alarming as the emptied reservoir may not be able to provide irrigation if rainfall decreases in the coming weeks. Farmers fear that a lack of stored water could lead to drought-like conditions despite the recent floods.

Constructed in 1999, the Barajoda Medium Irrigation Project has reportedly suffered from years of neglect. Local residents alleged that the irrigation department failed to maintain the barrage gates or undertake regular desilting, reducing the reservoir's water-holding capacity over time.

According to officials, the reservoir has a storage capacity of 1,207 hectare-metres and irrigates around 490 hectares through the left canal and 1,080 hectares through the right canal. The irrigation system serves a catchment area of nearly 36 square kilometres.

Officials from the Sapua Irrigation Division acknowledged the damage and said necessary steps would be taken. However, farmers and local residents have urged the Irrigation Department to immediately repair the damaged gates and desilt the reservoir to prevent future disasters and safeguard irrigation for thousands of farmers.

With the kharif season underway, cultivators now fear that unless urgent restoration work is carried out, large tracts of farmland dependent on the Barajoda reservoir could remain without irrigation, severely affecting agricultural production this year.