Gargi Parsai NEW DELHI: Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader Medha Patkar on Saturday said here that the Gujarat government should accept responsibility for the breach

With several irrigation projects in the state falling in the moderate seismic zone, the state government will conduct tests to ascertain their structural safety. The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, has already taken a decision on the issue, following the recent earthquake in China, which the scientists attributed to the Three Gorges project.

The Citizens Concern for Dams and Development (CCDD) has expressed apprehension that the Thoubal dam, now 60 per cent complete, was not safe as a big crack could be seen near the spillway. It also appealed to Manipur Irrigation and Flood Control Department (IFCD) Minister Nongthongbam Biren to look into the matter. The minister assured the organisation of looking into the matter and ensuring safe construction of the dam.

The police tried to stop anguished relatives from streaming into one of the worst affected areas of China's massive earthquake on Sunday, as another strong aftershock hit the area and the death toll rose to nearly 32,500. Hundreds of aftershocks have rattled Sichuan province following last Monday's devastating 7.9 magnitude quake, and officials are concerned the tremors could bring down more unstable buildings and rupture already leaky dams. Six days after the main quake hit, the overall death toll stands at nearly 32,500, state news agency Xinhua reported, with a further 220,000 injured.

The water-harvesting structures constructed in six villages to provide irrigation and agriculture sustainability in the area have proved to be a bane for villagers as the dams have not been desilted since their inception.

The reconstruction of Naryanguri dyke is going on in full swing bringing ray of hope to the people of that area especially those affected by floods in Barpeta and Baksa district. The construction which started in February 3, 2008 would be completed in March. The Narayanguri dyke was washed away in 2004 by the strong currents of Beki river which was overflooded due to the release of excess water of Kurisshu dam by the Royal Government of Bhutan. As a result Beki river changed its original course and flowed through Kalpani and Palla causing havoc in a number of villages. That year, though the dyke was repaired costing more than Rs 3 crore, the quality of work was poor and it collapsed on July 31, 2007. Since then about Rs 1.5 lakh people in Barpeta and Baksa district has been suffering from floods. On December last year the reconstruction work was formally inaugurated by BTAD chief Hagrama Mohilary, assuring quality work this time. An official with the Water Resource Department informed that the structure of the bundh will be the stronger this time. Depending upon the depth of the water,

THE longstanding controversy over the Mullaperiyar dam on the river Periyar assumed bitter proportions in December 2006 with the Kerala government accusing its Tamil Nadu counterpart of pulling out