Residents dig canal in Jharkhand village

LATEHAR - Setting an example for all those people who keep waiting for government help, the residents of a village in Jharkhand have joined hands to dig a canal and ensured a constant supply of water to irrigate their fields.

Residents of Lodh village Jharkhand’s Latehar district pooled in their resources for the canal and today reaping its benefit.

These villagers say that the canal dug by them today provides them water for irrigation even during low or no rainfall period of the year.

“This canal has been dug by the villagers. We all have come together and dug it so that we get water all round the year. This way we can get water for irrigation,” said Francis Kerketa, the Village Head of Lodh.

During the rainy season, the water level of waterfall increases but in the absence of any dam it does not get utilized.

Noticing the active initiative of the villagers to use the excess water of Lodh waterfall in the rainy season, the local authorities have also helped them in further development of the canal.

“With the help of the check dam we will bring water in the canal. The canal will go up to 300 feet towards the village. The canal would have dual advantage as it will work as a guard wall and protect the road coming towards the Lodh waterfall from further erosion. One side of the wall of the canal would be higher than the other side so that it works like a guard wall cum canal,” said Sudhanshu Bhushan Ram, Deputy Development Commissioner, Latehar district.

The Lodh Falls is the highest waterfall in Jharkhand state, at around 250 feet. By Girija Shankar Ojha (ANI)