Farmers draw special attention on Khoupum dam project
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 26 2014 : The Khoupum Area Farmer's Welfare Association fervently draws the attention of the Chief Minister, Dy.

CM and IFCD Minister towards the plight and sufferings of the farmers of the Khoupum area due to failure and nonfunctional of the Khoupum dam project, conveyed a press release.

It is worth mentioning that the Khoupum dam project is the first ever earthen dam in the entire hill districts of the North eastern states of India.

The Khoupum dam project was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister, Yangmaiso Shaiza on July 26, 1978 and the Khoupum dam canal project was commissioned by the then Chief Minister, Rishang Keishing in the year 1982-83 .

The Khoupum dam was constructed with a view to provide irrigational facilities to the farmers covering an area of 750 hectare of arable land encompassing more than 30 villages of the Khoupum area, it said.

Ever since the commissioning of the dam, the state Government has not done maintenance and necessary renovation of the said dam.

No adequate attention has been given to the deteriorating and worsening condition of the Khoupum dam project due to the sheer negligence on the part of the concerned department, the Khoupum dam project remains defunct for the last 30 years, it added.

The farmers of the Khoupum area for whose benefit the dam was constructed now become the worst sufferers due to the failure of the dam.

When the dam was commissioned, the farmers of the area were elated with the hope that they would be able to take up double cropping farming with the irrigational facilities from the Khoupum dam canal project.

But all the hopes have been shattered by the failure of the Khoupum dam canal project, it lamented.

On numerous occasions, the farmers had highlighted the need for immediate renovation of the Khoupum dam project so as to make it functional.

But till date, no tangible efforts on the part of the concerned department can be seen to repair the said dam, it reiterated.

The IFCD, Government of Manipur prepares ERM of Khoupum dam project in the year 2011-2012.But to our dismay, the IFCD under demand No.40 estimate of the amount required for the year ending March 31, 2014 includes the Khoupum dam project under non-plan.

As a result, the contractors who had undertaken minor works at the Khoupum dam project are suffering due to non-release of sufficient fund till date, it cited.

Therefore, the farmers earnestly appeal to the state Government to kindly give special attention to the ever deteriorating condition of the Khoupum dam and the said dam be placed under plan/central plan and also take necessary measures to ensure availability of sufficient fund for execution of various works in the best interest of the local farmers, it urged.

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