MLA Anand moots Waishel Maril project
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 25 2014: To bring a permanent solution to Waishel Maril (canal) which overflows into adjoining roads, streets and dwelling areas when there is a downpour for just two/three hours, there is a plan to take up a project called Waishel Project, said Naoriya Pakhanglakpa A/C MLA RK Anand.

Incidentally, Waishel Maril serves as the drainage system for seven Assembly segments including Keishamthong, Sa-golband and Naoriya Pa- khanglakpa.

MLA RK Anand accompanied by the IFCD Chief En- gineer and other officials today made field assessment of the retaining wall being constructed along the canal as well as clogged portions.

Retaining wall of 3 metres in height is constructed on both sides of the 16 Kms long canal at Kwakeithel Irom Leikai and Laishram Leikai.

There, the MLA instructed contractor/workers to give due attention to qualitative aspect of the construction work.

A view of Waishel Maril (canal)

The officials accompanying the MLA directed relevant officials to declog the canal and remove the wooden culvert built over Waishel Maril at Shantipur paddy fields, to the West of Mongshangei which leads to a brick field.

Speaking to media persons, RK Anand said that Waishel Maril has lost its ori-ginal structure at Keishamthong and Sagolband areas.

There is no drainage system.

The existing system gets overflown when there is even medium density rainfall just for a few hours.

To address this problem, a master plan called Waishel Project has been put in pipeline.

All the MLAs of the se- ven Assembly segments have been lobbying for this parti-cular project.

Once the project is executed, the problem of artificial floods would go away, he expressed.

IFCD Chief Engineer In-dramani said that the ongoing retaining wall construction work is being undertaken with Rs 30 lakh sanctioned from SPA and another Rs 1.60 lakh sanctioned by NEC.

Both the IFC Minister and the Planning Commission would be urged to declog the whole course of the canal at the cost of Rs 30-40 lakh so as to avoid flooding by water overflowing from the canal, said the CE.

DPR for Waishel Project whose estimated cost is Rs 50 crore has been submitted to the Ministry of Water Resources for implementation under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP).

Indramani claimed that they would receive consent of the Technical Advisory Committee for they have already made a field assessment.

Narrowing the canal at some areas of Keishamthong A/C and Khagempalli for irrigation of a small area of paddy fields by PDA and MI Department was wrong.

They should have asked IFCD before reducing breadth of the canal, Indramani said.