Sekmai Dam caves in
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 24 2015 :
The Sekmai Dam that was built in the Sekmai river to irrigate paddy fields and supply drinking water to nearby villages caved in early Friday morning.
About 20 feet of the dam portion in the middle had breached as it could not withstand the strong water current of Sekmai river in the last few days.
Incessant rains have swollen most of the major rivers including Sekmai river.
The dam caved in at around 3 am, some locals told Hueiyen Lanpao.
The construction of Sekmai Dam began in 2013 under the funding of North Eastern Council (NEC) at the estimated cost of Rs 4.30 crore.
But the dam is yet to be inaugurated.
So far, Rs 3 crore had been sanctioned for the dam construction, a local added.
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Manipur Government built the dam for supply of irrigation and drinking water to the surrounding villages of Tombilok, Meitanlok, Leikinthabi, Ogai Khulen, Khunou, Nilakuthi and Tingri, said a local named Chingshubam Joykumar.
The construction was undertaken by the Minor Irrigation Department and completed in 2014, but the dam developed a huge crack in the middle portion measuring about 4 ft in June last, he said.
Thereafter, the contractor tried to repair the damaged portion with boulders which was objected by the villagers.
Joykumar claimed that 6 mm iron rods were used in the construction of the upper section of the dam and that only 7 ft deep ground was dug for foundation of the dam construction.
Now, the hope of the people of these villages is dashed as a result to failure of the contractor and the authority concerned to maintain quality control in the construction of the dam, he regretted.