Panaji, Feb 16 (IANS): Goa's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded a CBI probe into the construction of Maharashtra's Tillari canal network, which in the last few weeks has seen several breakages.

Addressing a press conference here, state BJP president Vinay Tendulkar said that the recent cracks developing in the canals built as part of the Tillari river irrigation network had been creating hardships for farmers from Goa who depend on the water for irrigating their fields.

"We have demanded that the Goa government should demand a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) probe into the spurious construction of the canals, which are breaking up every week. What are our farmer going to irrigate their fields with?" Tendulkar said.

The Rs.1,612 crore worth Tillari dam project, located in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra is a joint undertaking by the both the state governments. Commissioned in May 2009, it is aimed at fulfilling the potable water needs of the south Maharashtra and north Goa region.

While the dam has been built and supervised by Maharashtra's irrigation department officials, the Goa government has paid for the lion's share of the money involved in the construction of the dam because the state avails of a bigger share of the dammed water.

Water supply to Goa's northern parts has been severely impaired for nearly a month after cracks in the Tillari canal network forced the Maharashtra government to suspend water supply from the dam.