Hundreds of irate villagers made the superintending engineer of the Deo Irrigation Project walk for about three kilometres at Karanjia in Mayurbhanj district on Sunday.
The villagers were miffed after water was not released in branch canals from Deo reservoir.
According to a source, water from the Deo reservoir was recently released in the main canal of the dam. After not getting water in the branch canals, the villagers got exasperated. As if the scanty rainfall was not enough, the dry canals had left the villagers a dejected lot.
There was widespread resentment in the village. On Sunday, hundreds of villagers assembled under the leadership of a former Samiti member of Karanjia block, Gunaram Sai. Later, they made Superintending Engineer of Deo Irrigation Project Bikram Keshari Mallik walk about three kilometres.
“Our demand is an immediate temporary arrangement for water in the canals so that the farmers can start agricultural activities,” said Sai.
When asked, Superintending Engineer Mallik said, “If they give us their grievance in writing, we will discuss it with the higher authorities. Then only the branch canals will get the water.”
The villagers said they would not allow the release of water in the north canal until their demand is met.