Railway works trigger mudslides, many affected
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 20 2016:
Villagers of Maranching, Nungtek,
Ranghung, Awangkhul and
nearby villages have been
affected due to railway track
construction work since 2009
and they are facing scarcity of
drinking water.
Paddy fields
and cash crops remain
unproductive and useless.
Today, a team comprising
of North East Frontier Rail-
way Chief Engineer-VII
(Construction) A Saibaba,
Zonal Railway User Con-
sultative Committee North
East Frontier Railway, Minis-
try of Railways, GoI member
Ch Hemchand Roy, former
MLA Khangthonang Pamei,
Oinam Jotin, social worker
and media persons went to
the affected villages and in-
teracted with the villagers.
Deikho, a villager of
Maranching said that, since
the construction started in
2009, residues discharged
from the construction sites
have been polluting the
nearby paddy fields besides
causing mudslides and water
scarcity.
After drinking water
from the nearby stream and
river, many cattle died since
the residues contain poison-
ous chemicals.
He said that earth and mud
brought down by rain from
the dumping sites have cov-
ered vast areas of paddy fields
which left farmers with no
fields for paddy cultivation
for the last six years.
Regarding this, villagers
approached the NF Railway
officials in the area and the
State Govt through the dis-
trict administration but there
has been no response till to-
day.
Further Deikho said that
many of the villagers have not
got compensation for lands
acquired on both sides of the
railway tracks and the approach road.
Forceson Khumba, a villager of Karuangmuan demanded
that the name of the Jiribam-Tupul sub-station should be
Jiribam-Maranching and Jiribam-Noney sub-station should
be named Jiribam-Nungtek sub-station.
No part of Tupul and
Noney is related and the authority concerned should initiate
due procedures to change the names as soon as possible.
The authority concerned should take proper measures to
build boundary pillars and specify the exact areas covered by
the railway track.
The authority should also look into the
matter and provide potable water to the affected villagers.
He also demanded payment of due compensation for af-
fected paddy fields and cash crops and construction of new
water drainage system for irrigation and other purposes.
A villager of Rangkhung said that 40 families of the village
were affected by the dumping of mud/earth and landslides
which were caused by the railway track construction work
directly or indirectly.
Ch Hemchand Roy said that he would submit a report on
the impacts of the railway track construction work for proper
rehabilitation, redressal and adequate compensation at the
92nd Zonal Railway Users' Consultative Committee meeting
to be held on June 23 at Luitgarh Railway Officers' Club,
Maligoan, Guwahati.
North East Frontier Railway Chief Engineer-VII (Con-
struction) A Saibaba said that, he will look in the matter after
inspecting and identify the affected location and take care of
the issues in the interest of the villagers to provide protection
and safeguards.
He said that the NF authority has been constructing the
railway track section by section.
Hence setting a target dead-
line to complete the entire railway project is difficult at the
moment.
Six tall bridges are technically challenging but tech-
nical solutions are being developed as demanded by the
situation.
As Manipur falls under a highly active seismic zone,
Geotechnical Mapping would be done to identify the rocks
and soil types so as to prevent or mitigate exigencies as much
as possible and ensure smooth construction with special focus
on safety of passengers.
Geotechnical Mapping would provide
holistic solution in the long term basis as construction of the
railway tracks has to deal with steep gradient and underground
tunnels.
The highest bridge is under construction near Noney
with the height of the pillar rising up to 141 meters.
The
construction of bridge has been completed by almost 60 per
cent Jiribam-Dholakhal section is planned to be completed by
October this year, Saibaba said
Further he said that Jiribam-Imphal railway is a National
Project and there would be no limitation of funds and inputs.
However, frequent bandhs and blockades have been delaying
the project because the necessary machinery and construction
materials could not be procured in time.
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