Farmers demand closure of dam gates
Source: The Sangai Express
Kakching, June 23 2020:
Within a short period of receiving water from the Sekmai Barrage, the paddy fields of Kakching Wairi Awang and Mantak are now suffering from shortage of water after two gates of the dam were opened up.
Expressing concern over the water shortage, the farmers have demanded for the two gates to be closed off immediately or strong agitations will be launched, they said.
During a meeting held at Kakching Wairi Awang Loukon, the secy of Kakching Wairi Awang Loukon and Mantak Loukon Development Committee Moirangthem Brojen expressed that the paddy fields of these two areas have always been neglected by the Government and it was with difficulty that it started receiving water from the Sekmai Barrage overflow.
However, after two of its gates were opened up, the paddy fields are no longer irrigated.
They were informed by the authority that the gates were opened up as the water level had reached the 'danger' mark.
Stating that the farmers have been regularly paying taxes for the water to the officials of the Department for using the 'overflow' water from the dam, Brojen added that however, this year, no officials arrived for tax collection.
He further informed that the farmers incurred huge expenses from their own pockets after drawing water from the Sekmai river using water pump sets.
The farmers have started irrigating the fields from this water source but this means is expensive and cannot be sustained for long, he added.
The committee has thus drawn the attention of the concerned authority to resume supply of the water to the fields by closing the two gates of the Dam, warning that it will launch strong agitations if their demand is not met.