Food shortage hits Mapithel
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 09 2016 :
Acute shortage of food stuff reportedly hit people of Mapithel dam area.
In a statement, Mapithel Dam Affected Villages' Organisation (MDAVO) said that scarcity of foodstuff in the area began in Oct last year as the paddy fields, the source of livelihood for the people, were submerged by the dam water.
Many families are now surviving by borrowing ration/rice from shops at Yaingangpokpi bazar.
Shortage of food have direct impact on children's education, it said.
Sadly, no Minister, local MLA and officials ever visited the area till date.
Besides, no PDS items are reached to the affected villages, it added.
MDAVO lamented that the affected villagers have got untold woes as the river water rises tremendously in the last few days.
Various experts of different Govt departments in their field investigation report stressed on importance of alternative sustainable livelihood arrangement for the affected people during the Expert Review Committees process till 2011.But to the total dismay of the affected villagers, the Govt has put those experts recommendations in a cold storage inspite of repeated insistence, it said.
The man-made disaster thrown upon the Mapithel dam affected villagers today will go on through out generations beyond repair unless the issues of Mapithel dam project are resolved through the Expert Review Committee which was intentionally left aside by the State Govt in 2011 without any official notification.
Finally, MDAVO urged all right thinking citizens to accept the reality that Mapithel dam, becomes a clear symbol of injustice.