Patchwork in fresh cement- recent breaches in the Narmada main canal, passing through Kadi in Mehsana district of Gujarat, betrays the state's mismanagement of canal infrastructure.
We had holidays: As part of their school assignment, students of Sujatpur village school, put up a board display of news clippings from local newspapers, reporting on the floods. They happily chirped,”We didn’t have to come to school”.
Infra structure: Canal breaches have been attributed to sudden spurt in precipitation. However, they had more to do with poor building material and loose compacting of adjoining soil.
The Narmada canal is built but still not ready: A newly constructed drainage siphon slopes down to the low lying fields. It allows the canal to shed its overload of water gradually, reducing chances of a sudden breach.
Short term stays: Loose sand and gravel stray over a repaired breach. The compacting of the soil adjoining the canal is overlooked again.
Writing on the wall: Sujatpur village lying low, adjacent the Narmada main canal was flooded on June 11, 2008. A teacher in the village’s government school, Mr.R.R. Patel points to the level, waters reached, on a classroom wall. The school remained closed forfive days.
We had holidays: As part of their school assignment, students of Sujatpur village school, put up a board display of news clippings from local newspapers, reporting on the floods. They happily chirped,”We didn’t have to come to school”.