The canals originating from Meja Dam, recognized as the largest water reservoir in the Bhilwara district, serve as a lifeline for agricultural irrigation, yet they have simultaneously turned into a major source of distress for urban residents. Recently, when water was discharged from the dam to facilitate the irrigation of Rabi crops, it not only raised farmers' expectations but also created massive disruptions across residential areas. Due to widespread structural damages along the canal network, water spilled onto main roads and populated localities. Furthermore, the newly erected safety walls, built under the guise of repair work, failed to withstand even the initial pressure of the flowing water and collapsed completely.
Flawed Construction Exposed on Avari Mata Road
New walls had been constructed recently to protect the damaged sections of the canal along Avari Mata Road in the city, but they could not hold up as soon as the water flow commenced. Local residents Bhagwati Lal Nolakha and Megharam Saini expressed intense anger over the incident, stating that wall construction work had been underway for the past 10 days, yet it caved in during the night following the hasty release of water without adequate preparations. During the execution of the construction work, neither was the foundation dug to a sufficient depth nor was the old, dilapidated foundation removed. Instead, a weak wall was raised directly on top of the old foundation using substandard materials and without proper curing, which is precisely why it gave way under water pressure.
Grave Risks of Accidents and Local Anxieties
This canal passes straight through densely populated residential areas stretching from the Avari Mata Temple up to areas beyond Mukandpura. Several residential colonies and a public park are situated close by, where a large number of children visit every evening to play. With the safety walls broken and missing, there is an alarming risk of children slipping and falling directly into the canal. In addition, street lights along this route have remained non-functional for a prolonged period, making nighttime movement even more perilous. Local inhabitants pointed out that accidents have occurred in the past when water was released into the canal, yet irrigation department officials have failed to learn any lessons from those prior incidents.
Public representatives including councillor husband Gaurav Tank raised serious concerns regarding the functioning of the irrigation department. He stated that officials had been warned during the canal construction phase not to release water until the safety walls and other essential infrastructure were fully reinforced. Due to the hasty release of water, newly constructed walls have now collapsed. The regional public and local representatives are strongly demanding the immediate construction of robust safety walls on both sides of the canal, alongside temporary barricading and proper lighting arrangements until the work is fully finished, ensuring that any potential tragedies or loss of life can be averted.
