Cracks in newly built canal trigger safety fears; Tarn Taran farmers demand probe into construction quality
Baljeet Singh
Tarn Taran (Punjab), July 12, 2026: Farmers in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district have raised concerns over the quality of a newly constructed canal after long cracks appeared in its embankments within months of its completion, prompting fears of a possible breach and damage to nearby agricultural fields.
The affected canal, located near Sabra village in the Patti Assembly constituency, carries water from Bu Havelian village. Farmers alleged that the canal has developed extensive cracks despite being recently constructed, raising questions over the quality of materials used during its construction.
Protesting at the site, farmers raised slogans against the Punjab Government and the Canal Department, alleging negligence and demanding immediate corrective action.
Farmer Karaj Singh Sabra, along with Sahib Singh Sabra, State Finance Secretary of the Kisan Sangharsh Committee Punjab, and Sohan Singh Sabra, Block President of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan), claimed that substandard construction material was used by the contractor, making the canal vulnerable even before it became fully operational.
According to the farmers, water was released into the canal only a few days ago, but cracks had already appeared beforehand. They alleged that water has started seeping through these cracks into adjoining fields, increasing the risk of the canal breaching and causing extensive crop losses.
The farmer leaders further alleged that after the issue was brought to the notice of the authorities, officials from the Canal Department visited the site and attempted to fill the cracks with soil instead of undertaking permanent repairs.
“The temporary filling of cracks with soil itself indicates that the construction was not carried out properly,” the protesting farmers claimed.
The farmers have demanded that the Punjab Government order an inquiry into the alleged use of substandard material, initiate legal action against the contractor responsible for the project, and carry out immediate repairs to prevent any possible breach.
They warned that if timely action is not taken, farmers cultivating land along the canal could suffer significant losses due to flooding and damage to standing crops.
No official response from the Canal Department had been issued at the time of filing this report.