An appeal letter to DC, Churachandpur

Eastern Khuga River Flood Victims Committee *

Sir,

We are villagers of Nengthawng veng, Meitei Christian leikai, Nazareth veng, Kerith veng and Vungkhanthang veng, residing on the eastern side of Khuga River downstream, Bijang-Loubuk Churachandpur.

That, we would like to draw your urgent attention regarding the ongoing construction of Protection/Retaining wall on the western bank of Khuga/Tuitha River at Zoumunnuam village, Churachandpur. Since we are living on the opposite eastern side of the said construction work this pose a grave danger to our live and livelihood.

Every year we were affected by recurring flood and large part of our present residing lands and agricultural fields have also been submerged and washed away.

Many families have fled from our villages as their residential and agriculture lands had been destroyed. The Evangelical Free Church of India (EFCI) was submerged and re-located for the third time within a span of 10 years.

Moreover due to the changes in river course many patta-lands that were surveyed earlier had been submerged. These lands have now come up as dry lands on the opposite river bank, that is Zoumunnuam and are now occupied. Many of these lands have also fallen into the ongoing retaining wall construction.

Our village approach road that was motor-able earlier have also narrowed down so much that it is now just a footpath.

We draw your urgent attention, that, this construction has created fear among the families. This also further has a potential of creating misunderstanding between the families/ villagers living along the two sides of the Tuitha/ Khuga River. We families living on the eastern side feel we are discriminated and marginalised.

This is also a grave injustice for us as protection is given only to the western side of the Khuga river bank. Our safety is at risk. We also want to reiterate that, we are victims of flood every year but we did not receive any compensation or any relief.

Our main concern is if such massive protection/ retaining wall come up only on one side of the Tuitha/ Khuga river bank, we the villagers / families living on the opposite eastern side will be immensely vulnerable to floods and natural disaster. This will be even more dangerous as the force of the water current will be stronger than the previous years due to this protection/ retaining wall.

We place our serious concerns regarding the ongoing protection/retaining -wall construction on the western Khuga river that will cause severe damage on the eastern river bank. Thus affecting us – the said villages and families in the eastern bank.

Therefore with utmost urgency we appeal equal treatment for victims of flood along the Khuga river, same protection for the villagers/ families on the eastern side of the Khuga River as in the western side – Zoumunnuam, construction of protection/ retaining wall on both east and west bank of the Khuga river and construction of one-sided protection wall is against humanity and moral responsibility.

Therefore either it is constructed on both side of the river or should be stop/re-consider immediately.

Eastern Khuga River Flood Victims Committee.