CM instructs Forest Dept to check quarrying of earth
Pipeline washed away, to affect water supply to Raj Bhavan
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 23 2014: Chief Minister O Ibobi has issued strict instructions to the Forest Department to check extraction of earth from hill sides which have been already notified as forest area.

On the other hand, a pipeline which supplied raw water to Kangchup water supply plant has been washed away when a hill slope broke away due to incessant quarrying of earth.

As such, potable water would not be available in Imphal area for sometime including the Raj Bhavan.

Observing that unrestrained extraction of earth from hill slopes which have been notified as reserved forests or unreserved forests is not only illegal but also upsets ecology, the Chief Minister has directed the Forest Department to crack down on such activities.

File pic of Singda Dam

People who are engaged in unrestrained extraction of earth on commercial scale should be arrested and booked, the Chief Minister instructed Forest officials during a meeting held this afternoon.

The meeting presided by the Chief Minister was attended by officials of Forest and Tourism Departments.

The meeting deliberated at length on extraction of earth from forest areas on commercial scale using heavy machinery like excavators, informed an official source.

Meanwhile, a pipeline of 600 mm in diameter which supplied raw water from Singda dam to Kangchup water treatment plant has been washed away when a hill slope broke away at Kadangband area due to continuous extraction of earth from the particular hill slope, informed a PHED official.

People who were quarrying earth were repeatedly told that continuous quarrying of earth would cripple the pipeline laid alongside the hill slope but to no avail.

It is not clear whether quarrying of earth on commercial scale has the approval of Forest Department or not, said the PHED official.

The department has also asked the police to take up necessary action against those people who have been quarrying earth on commercial scale.

The pipeline which was washed away when the hill slope broke down was a major pipeline.

Even as the department has pointed out that quarrying of earth on the rear portion of the Langjing hill where there is a water reservoir would jeopardise the reservoir, there is no let up in the quarrying activity.

Areas covered by the Kangchup water treatment plant and its extensions like the Raj Bhavan, areas covered by Keishampat reservoir, Chingtham Leikai, Haobam Marak, Kwakeithel, Khagempalli, areas covered by Irom Pukhri reservoir, Sangaiprou and areas covered by Nepra Menjor reservoir, Lamphelpat, Lalambung, areas covered by Cheiraoching reservoir and areas covered by Old Assembly reservoir would not have access to potable tap water for the next few days.

Meanwhile PHED Water Supply Maintenance Division No 1 Executive Engineer has appealed to the people to bear the inconvenience for sometime.