Farmers glee as fields get project water
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 28, 2012:
After prolonged anxiety and gloom due to erratic rainfall in the peak cultivation period, farmers in Bishnupur district finally had a reason to smile as the Loktak Lift Irrigation (LI) project released water to paddy fields covered by assembly constituencies of Oinam, Bishnupur.
Ningthoukhong and Moirang.
The release of water drawn from the Loktak Lake reportedly commenced from midnight yesterday from two high-capacity pumps installed at Pump House No.l.Even though the Pump House has a total of seven pumps of varying capacity use of only the two is considered to be sufficient to irrigate the targetted paddy fields.
Five pumpsets installed at Pump House No.l is informed to be capable of gushing out 90 cubic litres of water per second while the other set of two pumps are of 75 cubic capacity.
Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Ngamthang Haokip personally inspected the irrigation facility today.
He was accompanied by IFCD Chief Engineer Th Indramani and other Department officials.
The project is said to be first major project implemented by the IFCD and the lake water are "being currently provided through the 10-kilometre long Imphal Main Canal and 19-km Moirang Low Level Canal.
About 4000 hectares of paddy fields spread across the four assembly segments would be irrigated by the Loktak RI project.
It is said that power consumption of the two pumps is two megawatts.
The Imphal Main Canal will be able to irrigate paddy fields of Toupokpi, Upokpi, Potsangbam, Nachou, Kwasiphai, Khoijuman, Toubul and Ngaikhong Khullen.
Out of the total area of 1400 hectares falling under the canal about 1000 hectares have already been covered today.
For Moirang Low Level Canal with a command area of 3600 hectares, IFCD officials exuded confidence that irrigation water couldbe provided to 1250 hectares of paddy fields located in Ningthoukhong, Thinungei and Phubala areas.
Talking to newspersons during the inspection visit, Minister Ngamthang conveyed that on the advice of the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh to ensure water at rain-water starved paddy fields two pumps in the Project's Pump House No.l were operationalised since late night yesterday.
He also informed that IFCD Chief Engineer and his personnel replaced the Pump House No.1 power transformer with the Pump House No.2 transformer as technical snag was detected on the former equipment.
As the present situation/ problem arising out of insufficient rainfall had not prevailed in the State since drought affected agriculture activities in 2009 Department officials were not aware of the problem in the Pump House No.l power transformer, explained the Minister adding that the problem was realised only when its operation was necessary.
Asserting that water for irrigation would be provided through the Project's canal to the satisfaction of the farmers, Ngamthang also informed that similar arrangement is being made for paddy fields falling under the Sekmai Barrage.
In his comment.
Chief Engineer Indramani appealed to the farmers through the media for judicious usage of water being provided through the canals and also drew the attention of the Minister on the need for earmarking sufficient fund for maintenance of Project machinery and equipment.
Some farmers who were working in the fields stated that inspite of the belated initiative of the Government to irrigate the paddy fields the concern and commitment towards bailing out the farmers from distressful situation deserves appreciation.
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