Karang villagers still longing for an accessible road
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 25 2019: Even today, residents of Karang, under Bishnupur district are waiting for a road which is accessible by foot, let alone vehicle, along the road leading to Karang from Mayang Imphal (2 Kms).

The construction work along the said road stretch was halted by Loktak Development Authority (LDA) in 2018 and the road has remained inaccessible till date.

The Sangai Express, while visiting the area, talked to one Ningthoujam Juge (67) of Karang Chajing Leikai who stated that Karang village, located under Bishnupur district, has six locality namely Chingjeng Leikai, Bamon Leikai, Haobijam Leikai, Lamlon Leikai, Mangge Leikai and Soibam Leikai.

Over 300 clans with a population of 4000 are residing in the total six localities.

Since the time people started living in this place, they have been travelling from Karang till Mayang Imphal by foot and vehicles as well, he mentioned.

However, the road vanished as the water level rose as a result of the functioning of Ithai dam and now, the village remains as an island with no road connecting the village to other parts of the State, Juge added.

He further narrated that the villagers of Karang addressed the matter to the State Government and the construction work along the road initiated only to stop at a location which is only 2 Km away from Karang.

The Loktak Development Authority (LDA) had halted the work at June-July, 2018, citing environmental pollution as the reason.

Karang villagers still longing for an accessible road

As such, he said, the villagers are using the waterway as it is their only means of transportation to conduct business and attend other matters.

The situation is worsened during rainy season or a calamity , he said adding that the bits of Phumdis gets blown in and blocks the way leaving the villagers stranded for days.

He went on to state that this has become a great inconvenience for the Karang villagers as students fail to attend their schools and families fail to take their sick members to the hospital.

Sometimes, people have to take shelter at other's houses as the Phumdis had blocked the passage.

Juge remarked that the expense of building a house or transporting goods and commodities in Karang is high as the passage is perilous.

He appealed the State Government and the authorities concerned to hear the grievances of the villagers and construct the road stretch from Mayang Imphal to Karang.

Informing about educational system in the area, he said a Karang Government Primary School was recently constructed from the MLA local Area Development fund adding that over 100 students of the school are being taught by two teachers at present.

On the other hand, 20 students in Karang Khoidum Leihao Junior High School are being taught by eight teachers and 100 students in Muhindro English Private School are taught by eight teachers.

He further told The Sangai Express that the power is generated from Moirang Sub station and although prepaid meter system is implemented, the power does not come regularly.

Earlier, the villagers used to receive fresh drinking water from the water supply but now, they drink by filtering the water from Loktak lake using alum, he said.

The State Government used to distribute alum before but the villagers have to buy for themselves now.

An NGO called PRDA initiated steps to make water filter so as to supply fresh drinking water to the villagers in 2010 but the department concerned cut off the power line utilised for functioning of the equipment and the villagers are now back to square one, Juge lamented.

There is one PHC in which only a doctor and two nurses are present, he narrated adding that while emergency cases are admitted to the PHC, patients with critical cases are taken to hospital at Imphal or Moirang.

The fishermen in Karang catch fishes worth Rs 300 to Rs 1000 and sell them at Moirang Keithel, Ningthoukhong and Khwairamband Keithel Imphal.

The money they get from selling the fishes is then used to manage their family and send their children to school.

Later in the day, Karang Island Board Association, motor boat driver, Haobijam Rabi (27) said that the fare for travelling to Thanga Chingkha is Rs 10 per person adding that nine motor boats are providing services under the association.

He went on to state that Rs 150 is charged if the person prefers to travel alone.