Farmers seek faster repairs to East Manggarai irrigation channel

Borong — Farmers are urging faster repairs to the Waelaku irrigation channel in Compang Kantar, East Manggarai, after a landslide triggered by the Flores earthquake blocked the waterway on 15 August 2026.

The damaged channel supplies irrigation water to rice fields and horticultural land in Bangka Kantar, Golo Kantar and Nanga Labang, according to reports. Residents in those villages also use the supply for bathing and washing, while limited piped water is reserved mainly for drinking.

Repairs have begun, but farmers say the channel is not yet delivering water to the fields. Local reporting said the interruption has left farmland dry and raised the risk of crop failure.

Three villages depend on the Waelaku channel

The channel was covered by soil, rocks and vegetation after the earthquake caused a slope to collapse beside it, according to an emergency situation report. The report said the steep slope and loose material left a risk of further landslides, particularly during heavy rain.

Wakil Bupati Manggarai Timur Tarsisius Sjukur inspected the repair project and called for the work to be accelerated without compromising construction quality. The project is funded through the national budget and implemented under Balai Besar Wilayah Sungai Nusa Tenggara II, the regional river-basin authority, with Nindya Karya as contractor.

The disruption matters because Waelaku is a main water-distribution route for agricultural land in three villages, while residents also rely on it for household washing and bathing. Faster restoration would reduce the period in which farmers face dry fields and the possibility of harvest losses.

Local authorities are continuing to monitor the rehabilitation, and officials have asked the contractor to complete the work promptly while following field recommendations and maintaining construction quality.

Sources

• Pos-Kupang — regional news report
• liputan6.com
• Flores Editorial — regional news report
• topbusiness.id