Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 30 2009:
Highlighting the acute scarcity of water for irrigation in Khoupum valley area in Nungba sub-division of Tamenglong district because of the prolonged dry spell, the Khoupum Area Farmers' Welfare Association has appealed to the Government to sanction necessary drought relief fund as well as provide pump sets etc for irrigation.
A memorandum submitted to the Minister of Agriculture said that almost 18 sq kms of wet paddy fields which serves as the only means of sustenance to thousands of poor inhabitants of Khoupum valley has dried beyond cultivable condition.
Saying that the farmers are facing a desperate situation, it asked for repairing/reconstruction of the dilapidated irrigation canals for a distance of 3 kms from zero point of both canal wings from Khoupum dam site.