Chandrapur: A long-awaited irrigation project touted as a game changer for agriculture in three tehsils suffered a setback on its very first day, as Ghodazari distributary canal under Gosikhurd irrigation project breached within hours of the inaugural release of water.Water was released into the canal at around 7am on Monday, bringing to an end a wait of nearly 15 years for thousands of farmers in Bramhapuri, Nagbhid and Sindewahi tehsils. Designed to irrigate around 28,000 hectares of farmland, the project was expected to mark a new chapter for the region’s agriculture. Instead, by around 5.30pm, the canal had already found an unscheduled route, developing a major breach near Owala village in Talodhi (Balapur) area and sending large volumes of water into adjoining fields.The breach continued for nearly three hours before the flow was stopped at around 8.30pm. While irrigation officials rushed to the site, residents said water from the canal spilled into nearby farms for some time. Farmers fear damage to paddy crops and nursery beds, although the extent of the losses is yet to be assessed.With monsoon arriving late this year, paddy transplantation remains incomplete in several villages. Growers had been demanding early release of irrigation water to save the crop season.Construction of the 55-km Ghodazari distributary began in 2010 but was delayed for several years due to administrative hurdles, technical issues and land acquisition problems.The canal was finally declared complete in 2025, and this year marked the first-ever release of water through the system. At present, water has reached Jeevanapur in Nagbhid tehsil, covering nearly 44km of the canal. Work on the remaining stretch up to Jatalapur in Sindewahi tehsil is still in progress, with the irrigation department aiming to make the entire 55-km canal fully operational next year.Irrigation department officials said repairs to the damaged section are expected to take three to four days, during which water supply through the canal will remain suspended.
