The canal, which the beleaguered saffron alliance sees as a major endeavour to make a dent into western Maharashtra, has disturbed the wellsprings feeding Mahakande's cane-growing areas spread over five acres. The Raosahebs, local government officials, have conducted some panchnamas of Mahakande's well. But not a word of any reparation. ``I may barely survive this season on the available water,'' Mahakande told this newspaper.

Talked of as a major achievement by a public sector enterprise in this part of India, Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporation's (MKVDC) 24.2 km Bhima-Sina canal-tunnel links the distant Bhima and Sinavalleys. The over Rs 110 crore endeavour involves lifting water up to 48 meters at Kandar from Yashwant Sagar reservoir of Ujani irrigation project and diverting it into the Sina near Kave village in Madha taluka of Solapur. The canal link includes a 19.2 kilometer tunnel, three times in length compared to the engineering marvel of Karbude rail tunnel near Ratnagiri, constructed as a part of the Konkan Railway.

The project may be a boon for some areas of Solapur and Osmanabad districts. But it is a bane for a hundred-odd farmers in Kandar from where the tunnel takes off. ``The endeavour is more of a misfortune,'' said Nana Lokare who represents Kandar in the board of directors of Adinath sugar cooperative.

The tunnel has disturbed the wellsprings in Kandar and surrounding villages, leaving a number of previously well-fed orchards high and dry. The huge investments are also in a jeopardy, Lokare said, making a point that some villagers displaced by the Ujani dam 23 years ago, are now facing anothercalamity.

Water tables have sunk as the canal progressed, Mahakande said. The pace of water depletion was as high as four to five feet a day. His well, some 49 feet deep, which once catered to his eight acres, today is hardly able to water the standing crop over five acres.

The problem was brought to the notice of Irrigation Minister Eknath Khadse during one of his numerous rounds of the project, the farmers in Kandar said. The villagers, accompanied by local independent MLA Digambar Bagal, also tried to stall the work, demanding urgent attention of the officials concerned, Lokare said.

The panchnamas of a few wells later carried out was another whitewashing bid by the officials, they feel. Further, the panchnamas were done selectively, the farmers charged.

When contacted in Pune, superintendent engineer of Kukadi projects, S J Shinde, said the MKVDC was aware of the problem and has been taking steps. He is vested with the responsibility of the project.

Water tables have sunk only in afew wells, Shinde maintained. He refuted the Kandar farmers' claim that over a hundred wells faced water depletion. The superintending engineer was open enough to state that the survey was still incomplete. Some five wells were identified during the panchnamas so far, and there could a few more, he said.

The MKVDC has not yet decided the quantum of compensation given to these farmers, Shinde said, pointing out that the corporation could straightaway ``purchase'' the affected wells. The owners would be given compensations equal to costs of excavation, border-lining and other construction. These would be computed on the basis of some kind of ready reckoner, Shinde said.

On compensation for loss of crops due to depleting wellsprings, Shinde said that there were no such provisions.

Lokare, however, was emphatic about alternate water sources for the affected farmers. All the wells within 2000 feet on both sides of the canal-tunnel should be surveyed, he said. ``Monetary compensations will be futile,''he said, adding that it would hardly help the farmers.

Local farmers have also been demanding proper survey and compensation for a few houses which were relocated and those which have been damaged and developed cracks due to shocks of explosions during the excavations.