Standing crops submerged, food scarcity looms
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 22 2011: With vast tract of agricultural land inundated by flood water destroying paddy crops, the shadow of food scarcity looms large over the people of Khangabok area under Thoubal district.

In this regard, people of the area have drawn the attention of the Government for taking up necessary remedial measures.

People of the area have also expressed regret over the alleged indifferent attitude of their local MLA O Landhoni Devi towards their plight at such a critical moment.

Around 4000 paris of agricultural land with standing crops in Sagai Makhong Loukon, Sanlam Loukon, Tentharam Loukon, Bihu Loukon, Moulubi Loupham, Palli Wangma Loupham, Keipha Loupham, Haokhong Loupham, Phumtha Loukon, Langkhongpat Loukon, Mamang Loubuk Loukon, Tentha Ching Loukon, Samram Sabal Leikai Maning Loukon, Tentha Khunjao Loukon, etc have been submerged under water mainly caused from artificial flood.

Accompanied by a media team, former Minister L Jatra and Khangabok Zilla Parishad member Kh Kumari today conducted a tour of the flood affected area.

Interacting with the media team, flood affected people informed that it is for the second time this year that crops have been destroyed in the flood primarily due to failure of lifting the sluice gate of the right plank canal of Thoubal barrage in time.

Vast tracts of agricultural land under water at Thoubal district

At present, the only sluice gate of the left canal is being lifted.

This has left to overflowing of the water in the low lying areas, and the problem has been further compounded following construction of ringbund at Thoubal Athokpam.

To reduce the impact of the flood, the affected people of the area have appealed to the department concerned for lifting all the sluice gates of Ithai barrage at the earliest possible as well as to the Government for taking up necessary measures to bail them out from their current situation.

The flood affected people of Khangabok area have also expressed regret over the alleged indifferent attitude of their local MLA O Landhoni, who has not even visited them to inquiry about their problems.

Apart from flood in Khangabok Assembly Constituency, agricultural land in Sangaiyumpham area of Thoubal have been inundated as the Khongjom canal whose construction work has been going on for long has blocked the excess rain water from flowing away.

Meanwhile, coupled with the overflowing Wangjing river, the bank of Tentha Khunjao south canal has also breached for a length of about 10 feet.

This has raised the water level of Ikop Pat subsequent upon which several hectares of paddy fields in the surrounding area have been submerged under water.

Water level of Kharung Pat is also raising at an alarming rate.

With around 1000 hectares of paddy fields spanning over Tentha, Sambei Loukon, Khunjao Makha Khong Loukon, Heibung Loukon and Khonglam Loukon all inundated together with paddy plants which have started flowering in addition to several fish farms which have been over-flooded, farmers of Wangjing-Tentha are facing a desperate situation.

On the other hand, breach developed for the second time over a distance of around 20 feet along the embankment of Khabi river near Thangtek Hidang Sungba Maning under Konthoujam Assembly Constituency has led to inundation of over 40 residential houses in Thangtek and Hidang Sungba Kabui village apart from submerging agricultural land in Pamphel Loupham.

The embankment of Khabi river gave in for the second time at around 11 pm yesterday even the flood affected people of the area are yet to overcome from the impact of the first breach.

At least two relief camps have been set up for the flood affected people.

MLA of Konthoujam Assembly Constituency today conducted a tour to take of the flood situation and met the flood affected people in the relief camps.

A local farmer has observed that apart from the help being provided from the side of local MLA K Sarat, the Government ought to do more than just providing some bamboo mats and sacks to the people who have suffered the impact of breaching of embankment not just once but twice.

One AE S Somochandra of IFC Nambol Sub-Division-V, who came to inspect the flood situation informed that eight bamboo mates and 200 sacks have been provided to the flood affected people as immediate relief measures from the side of the Department.

The officer contended that breaching along the embankment of Khabi river has been developed affected the people because repairing work had been done without the knowledge of the department.

Local people have disclosed that the repairing work along the embankment had been done under the supervision of Deputy Speaker Th Lokeshore and INC candidate in the last by-election to Konthoujam A/C Dr S Ranjan.