Gujarat Canal Demolished After Failing MLA's Hammer Test

A recently constructed canal in Gujarat's Kheda district, worth Rs 2 crore, has been demolished after it failed a hammer test conducted by a local MLA, who struck the canal's retaining wall with a hammer and found it to be severely fragile. The Mahi Irrigation Minor Canal in Vanthvali village was intended to serve local farmers, but persistent complaints from farmers led to the MLA's intervention and the subsequent discovery of the poor construction quality.

The issue came to light after the MLA conducted a surprise inspection of the site and found that the structure shattered instantly when struck with a hammer, revealing the use of severely low-grade materials.

Following the MLA's report to high-level officials in Gandhinagar, the state government issued immediate orders for the project's destruction and reconstruction, with heavy machinery deployed to raze the approximately 4-kilometer-long stretch of the canal.

The incident has sparked a wider debate in Gujarat regarding the transparency of rural infrastructure projects and the effectiveness of the monitoring agencies meant to certify such work. The court or relevant authorities are yet to announce the next steps in addressing the issue of contractor negligence and lack of oversight, but the state government has assured farmers that the canal will be rebuilt from scratch with strict adherence to quality standards.