Mapithel dam faces massive mud siltation
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 07 2017:
Mapithel Dam Affected Villages Organisation (MDAVO) has claimed that the 21 months old Mapithel dam water reservoir has started facing a jolt of massive mud siltation stretching around 1 km from Shangkai to Thoyee village recently .
In a press release, MDAVO expressed concern that this is the first signal of fast shallow up of the impounded dam water due to quantum of mud influx during the heavy rains .
It is the direct fall out of failure of protection of catchment and forest areas in the upstream portions, it said .
The organisation recalled that there has been critical damage of the forest areas in the upstream region of the Yangwui Kong/Thoubal river of Ukhrul district due to numerous reasons where soil erosion has attained serious proportion .
It contended that the incident of speedy mud siltation of the dam water is due to lack of serious concern on the part of the project authorities about the dam .
Thus, it is highly apprehensive that the water body of Mapithel project would dry up in short span like the Singda dam where the reservoir of the dam was drastically shortened due to unprotected catchment forest, it stated .
MDAVO also alleged that the incident of quick siltation conveyed a clear message of lack of proper consultation with experts and immaturity on the project implementation .
It asked as to why should the project authority invest and put effort for such a project which has no hope of positive outcome, while the affecting communities remain a victim with no signal for better living in the future .
It drew the attention of the project proponent and IFCD to address the matter towards viability and feasibility of the project rather than commissioning it for name sake.