Fear of water scarcity looms at Singda Dam
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 03 2024: Without ample rainfall in the next few weeks, Ireng Naga village Chairman Ch Lovingson has expressed fear that there might not be any water left in the Singda Dam.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, Ch Lovingson highlighted the decrease in water volume and added that the water level has dropped to a mere 30% of the mud dam's total capacity.

Notably, last year people demanded adequate supply of water for irrigation from the dam and thus the concerned people including security personnel opened the dam and supplied water through the irrigation canals.

This happened at a time when the Manipur crisis was at its peak and there was frequent cross-firing among the communities, he said.

As a result, the water supply from Singda Dam was not shut off for roughly two months and a huge volume of water was inadvertently wasted.

Thus, the water level dropped to only 30%, said the village Chairman.

He rued that owing to the restive situation in Manipur, nobody was able to go to the dam and inspect the water level or close the dam gates.

However, villagers residing in the vicinity of Singda Dam noticed the decrease in the dam's water volume and successfully shut off the water being supplied through the canals.

Prior to the Manipur conflict, the Water Resources Department was in charge of opening and shutting off the dam at the appropriate time and the water level remained largely stable.

But the conflict has affected timely water supply from the dam, he maintained.

Stating that two mountain streams feed the dam, Ch Lovingson remarked that while the Singda Dam supplies water to people in the valley, the residents of Ireng Naga village and other nearby villages depend on the mountain streams.

However, he also pointed out that the volume of water flowing in these streams have reduced significantly.

In the absence of adequate rainfall this season, the water stored in the dam might dry up after a few weeks, the Chairman warned.

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