Farmers in Dhankuria, Khajana, and Badlachak villages under the Phullidumar block of Banka district are facing severe distress due to the lack of water release into the Rajaun branch canal of the Badua Dam. Hundreds of acres of paddy cultivation in these villages have been hampered as most fields remain dry. Farmers have submitted applications to the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Officer, and the Chief Minister, demanding immediate release of water into the canal.

The farmers state that the SDO of the command area had assured them of water supply, but no water has been released yet. Although the canal was cleaned this year, farmers are not benefiting from it due to the absence of water. The lack of irrigation water from the Badua Dam has led to widespread anger and despair among the farmers in the region.

They also mentioned that about two years ago, an application was submitted to officials for the repair of a faulty gate at the Madhyagiri Dam, but it has not been repaired to date. Local farmers, including Vikas Chandra Rai, Sanjeev Kumar Rai, Vipul Kumar Rai, Umesh Chandra Yadav, Jahendra Yadav, Mahendra Yadav, Anuj Kumar Rai, Nikesh Yadav, and Parmanand Rai, have appealed to the administration to release water into the canal without delay to save their paddy crops. Their crops are on the verge of wilting due to the lack of irrigation.