Panic gripped residents of Phide Kalan village in Faridkot on Saturday morning when a massive breach, over 100 feet wide, developed in the newly repaired Rajasthan Feeder Canal, on the very first day when water was released into it.
While the authorities rushed to the scene to prevent any immediate casualties or flooding of residential areas, the incident has sparked severe outrage over alleged corruption.
The breach occurred unexpectedly shortly after water was released into the canal following over 45 days of maintenance shutdown. A stretch of the embankment measuring over 100 feet collapsed on the village side, causing an immediate rush of water.
Senior officials from the Punjab Irrigation Department, including Executive Engineer (XEN) Balwinder Kumar, rushed to the spot with a workforce of nearly 250 labourers and heavy machinery to plug the gap.
“A portion of the lining had a weak joint. The soil underneath settled, leading to the breach. However, the exact technical cause is still under investigation. We expect to complete the plugging operations by tonight. Fortunately, no loss of life or property has been reported," said XEN Balwinder Kumar.
The quick reassurance from officials did little to pacify the local villagers. Angry residents accused the department and contractors of using substandard materials and engaging in systemic corruption.
“The water was released for the first time today, and it couldn’t even sustain the pressure for a single day. If this is the condition on day one, what will happen later? This is a clear case of financial embezzlement," alleged a resident.
Locals demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the role of contractors and overseeing officials responsible for the canal’s realignment and lining works.
While Punjab officials manage the structural failure, the breach deals a devastating blow to neighboring Rajasthan.
The Rajasthan Feeder Canal, which carries Sutlej-Beas waters from the Harike Barrage in Punjab deep into the Thar Desert, has been completely shut down for nearly 45 days due to ongoing realignment and relining work of a remaining 16.62 km stretch in Faridkot, costing around Rs 170 crore.
The closure has triggered an unprecedented drinking water and irrigation crisis across nearly 12 desert districts of Western Rajasthan—including Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Sri Ganganagar, and Hanumangarh—which rely entirely on this network as their lifeline.
Water was originally scheduled to be restored to Rajasthan by May 11, but delays by Punjab authorities pushed the timeline back, leaving the desert state parched. The latest breach is bound to delay the restoration of regular supply even further.
Former Chief Engineer of Rajasthan Canals, Vinod Mittal, highlighted that residents in desert districts have been forced to consume stagnant, two-month-old stored water, which is being strictly rationed. Health officials have warned of a looming outbreak of diarrhea and other water-borne diseases.
Rajasthan irrigation officials have been mounting immense pressure on the Punjab Government to expedite the project. While the Punjab Irrigation Department claims that the adoption of traditional brick-lining (instead of concrete) on a 12.5-km stretch near Faridkot — requested by local farmers to aid groundwater recharge — slowed down construction, the structural failure at Phide Kalan has raised serious questions about the project’s engineering integrity.
