Guards posted on Nira left canal to stop theft of water bound for Shetphal lake

Indapur: Water has been released from the Nira left canal to fill Shetphal lake, and this time the water resources department has tightened security so that it reaches the lake at full pressure and is not stolen on the way. Eight guards from the Pune District Security Guard Board have been posted at the canal head.

The guards, all from Bhor taluka, will patrol along the canal day and night and watch every distributary head, said assistant engineers V.P. Kate and Rohit Zanzane and branch engineer Ratan Zagade of the department.

During several earlier releases, some farmers opened the small gates at distributary heads at night and illegally diverted water to their fields, so it reached the lake at low pressure and the lake never filled. The department decided to release water under guard this time to stop the theft, and has warned that anyone caught stealing water will face action under the rules.

With the rains failing, the drought is severe this year, and drinking and farm water for the next eight months will have to be planned around this release. If the lake fills, it will ease the shortage in the area and bring relief to farmers worried by its falling stock.

Source: Pudhari