Rain washes away Sekmai dam
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 24 2015 :
The controversial Sekmai dam was washed away by torrential rain last night.
Meanwhile, extensive damage has been done to paddy cultivation as vast areas of paddy fields located within Khundrakpam A/C have been flooded on account of the non-operational pick-up wire constructed by MI Department at Keibi Kumuda.
The middle portion of the Sekmai mini-dam constructed near an RCC bridge as a part of River Lift Irrigation scheme was washed away by torrential rain last night.
According to information culled from the spot, no officials of MI Department came to inspect the devastated dam.
Wreckages of the washed away dam revealed sub-standard construction materials, said one man from a nearby village.
The scheme was taken up since 2011 at the estimated cost of Rs 4.22 crore under NEC.
A 35 feet long section of the dam's eastern retaining wall caved in, in 2013.Next year, seepage of water was reported from upstream to downstream right through the middle of the dam.
Whereas a case was registered by Vigilance Department in connection with the purported anomalies committed in the process of constructing the dam, Chief Minister O Ibobi assured on the floor of the House that befitting actions would be initiated if any officer(s) is/are found guilty.
Meanwhile, on account of the ineffectiveness of the pick-up wire constructed by MI Department at Keibi Kumuda, large tracts of paddy fields located at Uyumpok, Lamboikhul and Nongshum within Khundrakpam A/C have been flooded.
Because of not opening the gates of the pick-up wire completely, hundreds of hectares of paddy cultivation have been devastated at Keibi Kumuda, Uyumpok Mamang Leikai, Uyumpok Maning Leikai, Uyumpok Wakhong, Uyumpok Terapur and Nongshum.
Apart from paddy fields, some homesteads have been flooded at Lamboikhul.
Large tracts of paddy fields have also been flooded at Khundrakpam and Tangkham.
Meanwhile, an official team led by Sagolmang SDC O Nilamani conducted a field inspection of the flooded paddy fields today.