Dam affected villagers demand equal treatment
Source: Hueiyen News Service / K Kopham Kanshouwa

Imphal, July 26 2015: Mapithel Dam Affected Chingtam Organisation (MDACO) has appealed the Government to give equal treatment to all the submerged villages while granting rehabilitation and resettlement packages.

Speaking to media persons on Sunday at the dam site, MDACO Chairman S Ramthar alleged that the government has sanctioned Rs 14 lakhs in each of Chandong and Lamlai Khunou families whereas Phayang, Louphong and Nongdam Kuki, Nongdam Tangkhul and Bethelphai villages were given Rs 3000 to Rs 10,000 each in the year 1991 .

He demanded the government to translate the demands of the villagers into actions within 30 days.

He said, "It is also unfortunate to learn that two villages, Louphong and Nongdam Kuki had to be shifted to other safer places and the villages are located just 40 to 50 meter away from the reservoir site" .

The two villages had already been shifted from the main dam site in 1991 .

Dam affected villagers demand equal treatment

A team of All Manipur United Clubs Organisation (AMUCO) led by their President Y Mani Khuman visited the dam site on Sunday and interacted with the MDACO members.

Y Mani promised to put the issue in the larger state interest and a memorandum will be submitted to the Chief Minster and the Prime Minister over the matter soon.

Meanwhile, down steam affected villagers are living in panic after the dam water seepage and they are taking shelter at safer places.

According to a source, the Thoubal Multipurpose project was approved for Rs 47.25 crore by the Planning Commission, Government of India on May 1, 1980 .

The project is aimed at harnessing perennial water flow of Thoubal River for providing irrigation, drinking water supply and hydro power generation.

The project had been included in the Prime Minister's Special Economic Package (November 2004) under AIBP scheme and is being monitored by the Centre.

The last revised cost of the Project was Rs 1694.27 crore in 2001.The project has earthen dam - 66 metre high and 1074 metre long constructed at Pheiyang and Maphou across Thoubal river.

7.50 MW having three generating units of 2.5 MW each will be operational after the commissioning of the project.

Water transmission system for supply of drinking water of 45 MLD in and around Imphal City and creation of additional irrigation Potential by 1161 Ha (CCA) had also been the projected aim.

So far, the construction is 93.89 percent is completed while spillway 88 percent completed.

For Left and Right canal, it has been reported that 80 percent of the work has been completed.

Approved outlay for the year 2015-16 is Rs 172.970 crore and cumulative expenditure upto June 2015 was Rs 1325.837 crore.

The target date of completion of project will be March 2016.However, the completion date of water supply and power generation may be extended to 2017 .