SURLA: A fire has once again broken out along the pipeline of the Sonshi-Surla irrigation project, which is recognized as India’s first automated agricultural water supply project. The pipeline, designed to deliver water to farmers through mining trenches, has faced multiple fire incidents in the past, causing significant delays to the project’s completion.
The project, which had been inaugurated just a month ago, has been plagued by setbacks due to repeated incidents like this. The fire that broke out recently has caused damage to the newly laid pipeline, which is crucial for supplying water to local farmers. In addition to the pipeline, the fire has spread to nearby forest areas, further complicating the situation.
The cause of the fire is currently unclear. While initial investigations are underway, there are growing concerns that the fire may have been intentionally set. The repeated occurrence of such incidents has led to suspicions that these may not be accidents but deliberate acts of sabotage.
A local farmer, has expressed his concern over the situation and has demanded a government inquiry. He emphasized that the timely operation of the water supply project is critical for farmers in the region, and further delays could cause immense hardship. Farmers urged the authorities to thoroughly investigate whether the fire was deliberately caused and take strict action against those responsible.
“The delays in the project have already caused enough trouble for the farmers. We need answers as to why this is happening repeatedly, and the culprits must be held accountable,” Natekar said.
The Sonshi-Surla irrigation project, which aims to provide a reliable water supply to local farmers, has been a much-anticipated initiative for the region. The project uses an automated system to supply water to fields through specially designed pipelines that take water from mining trenches. This system was expected to ease water scarcity issues for farmers in the area, but the repeated incidents of fire and damage to infrastructure have raised questions about its future progress.
Authorities are now under pressure to resolve the issue and ensure the safety of the project’s infrastructure. Local officials have confirmed that investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fire, with a particular focus on whether foul play was involved.
The public and farmer communities are closely watching the developments, hoping for a swift resolution and an assurance that such incidents will not affect the functioning of the much-needed water supply project.
