BHAWANIPATNA: A 15-metre-long breach in the left main canal of Indravati project on April 28 damaged standing paddy crops in about 100 acres of land at Kasibahal village. Besides, crops were damaged due to sand cast in some places and in the down stream of the canal, irrigation was affected. Breaches are a regular occurrence in the canal system of Indravati irrigation project every year sans timely maintenance work. Last year at the same spot in Kasibahal, there was a breach in the right main canal and Rs 5 lakh was spent for repairing the damaged portion of the canal. The repair work, however, lasted for just a year. During kharif season of 2009 in August, there was a 50-metre-long breach in the left main canal at Malguda village. A month later, there was a breach in the right main canal at Ranibahal village which led to disruption of irrigation in the canal for many days. Due to regular breaches in the canal, questions are being raised on the quality of the repair work done. The canal system of Indravati project in most of the places is in dilapidated condition. In many portions of the left and right main canal, the inner protective wall either does not exist or is damaged and the canal bed is filled with silt and sand. Distributaries, minor and sub-minor canals are also in similar deplorable condition. Farmers alleged that this only exposes the negligence of project authorities in repairing and maintaining the canal system.There is immediate need for major work by the Indravati project authorities to re-structure and renovate the canal system of this irrigation project which is considered the lifeline of Kalahandi.