Retaining wall of Sekmai Dam collapses
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, December 18 2013: In a clear evidence of the quality of work being compromised by the contractors and officials concerned, some portion of the retaining wall of Awang Sekmai Dam has crumbled into the river even before completion of the construction work.

The Sekmai Dam Project is being taken up by Minor Irrigation Department under the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) of Northeastern Council (NEC) for a total cost of Rs.4.22 crores.

The project began in 2011 and it was targeted for completion within a year.

However, there is not much work progress.

Only about one-fifth of the project has been completed so far, a sum of Rs.2.5 crores (more than half of the total project cost) has been disbursed by the contractors.

According to a highly placed source, the project has been divided among three sub-contractors.

The collapsed portion is undertaken by one contractor identified Inao.

One of the other two contractors has been identified as Bijoy.

Meanwhile, the members of Koirengei Awang Khunggang Mapal Chaokhat Thourang Committee today inspected the works of Sekmai Dam.

Talking to media persons on the sideline of the inspection, Secretary of the Committee Premkumar Chingakham said that the Dam is being constructed over Sekmai River at Leikinthabi Shantipur for providing water to Nilakuthi Canal all throughout the year.

The Nilakuthi Canal would irrigate about 2000 hectares of paddy fields at Leikinthabi, Awang Wabagai, Tingri, Awang Potsangbam,Awang Potsangbam Khunou, Keikon, Nilakuthi, Mongjam, Koirengei and Maiba Khul.

However, the apathy of the State Government and irresponsibility of MI officials have led to the collapse of the retaining wall of the Dam.

There is also a big question on the feasibility of this project as the Nilakuthi Dam is located eight feet above the water level of Sekmai River.

It is uncertain if the water from Sekmai River would ever flow to Nilakuthi Canal when the construction of this Dam is completed, the Secretary noted.

A team of officials led by the Principal Secretary and Chief Engineer of Minor Irrigation Department also inspected the Dam today following intense pressure from the Village Committee.

The officials assured the members of Village Committee that the project would be completed in time and all works would be strictly monitored for quality control.

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