Dam displaced villages threaten stir
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 03 2015 : Saying that they would serve an ultimatum to all relevant authorities including the Chief Minister today, the Mapithel Dam Multipurpose Project Dis-placed Villages Committee (MDMPDVC) has threatened to launch all kinds of agitation if they do no receive positive response to the ultimatum within 20 days.

Speaking to media persons at Lamlai Khunou today, MDMPDVC vice-president K Ningreingam decried that the Government has been giving resettlement and reha- bilitation packages in piecemeal manner to the affected the people.

Even as large tracts of agricultural land and forest areas have been affected, neither the Chief Minister nor the IFC Minister nor the local MLA ever bothered to visit the affected places to collect first hand information.

Earlier, the Ukhrul DC visited the affected villages and gave a number of assurances but nothing came out of all those assurances, Ning-reingam decried.

Although 10 households of Lamlai Khunou shifted away after their household plots were inundated by the dam, they have not been given their due compensation till date, alleged Lamlai Khunou chief P Mahangmi.

People's misery was multiplied manifold after the inter-village road was submerged under water, he said.

After the IVR was submerged, pregnant as well expecting women went to nearby places of relatives so that they can access medical service in case of any emergency, said Lamlai Khunou Women Association chairperson Sheela Jajo.

Lamlai Khunou has been reeling under acute shortage of water fit for human consumption.

Since the water current was blocked, the water of Thoubal river is no longer fit for human consumption.

Many people who used the Thoubal river water out of compulsion are now suffering from several skin diseases, said one villager.

He also sought immediate attention of the Health Department into the prevailing health condition of Lamlai Khunou.

After United Christian Academy, Riha and Chadong Govt Jr H/S were flooded by Mapithel Dam, students of the two schools have been put away from formal education.

Saying that large tracts of paddy fields could not be cultivated this season as they have been inundated, another villager urged the State Agriculture and Horticulture Departments to take up necessary measures which can ameliorate the woos of the villagers.

With the opening of the Mapithel Dam, trees and other vegetation earlier covered by water have started re-surfacing but they have all decomposed and these decomposed plants have been emanating a very stinky and nauseating smell, said another villager.

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