Santa Cruz Four Pillars sluice gate breaks down, saline water enters paddy fields

The sluice gate at Four Pillars in Santa Cruz collapsed allowing saline water to enter the paddy fields. There are allegations that the repair work carried out by the contractor was shoddy and the wood used of inferior quality.

 This however has been denied by the contractor. But what is broken is broken is there for all to see, people say.

The ancient sluice gate systems in the state are delicate contraptions.

The system is made of wood and over period of time the wood rots in the saline water. And then the sluice gates collapse.

And then farmers are not able to cultivate their paddy fields because of salinity.

The broken sluice gate at Char Rasta is being temporarily close using wooden planks.

Chairman of Santa Cruz Tenants Association Renato Dias and manos repairer Govind Chari refuted the allegations that the work was substandard and the wood used was of inferior quality.