Karnal canal breach: Khattar’s OSD recommends suspension of 3 officials

KARNAL: Three days after a 100-feet breach in western Yamuna canal submerged several villages in Indri, Amarendra Singh, officer on special duty (OSD) to Haryana chief minister, on Tuesday recommended suspension of three officials for their “negligence”.

As per the press statement issued by Haryana information and public relations department, the OSD on Tuesday along with officials of the irrigation department visited the affected villages.

After taking feedback from village residents, the OSD asked irrigation department chief engineer ML Rana to suspend sub-divisional officer (SDO) Ravinder Kumar, junior engineer (JE) Ved Pal and beldar Karamvir for dereliction of duty.

He also asked the chief engineer to investigate the involvement of executive engineer concerned. Talking to Hindustan Times, the chief engineer confirmed that the said officers were suspended by the higher authorities and a departmental inquiry was initiated as per the orders.

The OSD later said a special ‘girdawari’ will be conducted to assess the crop loss caused due to the breach in canal embankment.

However, Karnal deputy commissioner Adita Dahiya said he was not aware about the OSD’s recommendation.

He, however, said work to plug the breach was going on.