Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 19 2010:
With Ngangou paddy fields in Lilong constituency flooded by water leaked from Imphal river, local farmers are fearful if they cannot cultivate paddy this season.
Ngangou paddy fields which is around 500 hectares large is the principal means of livelihood for around 16,000 people settled in 14 villages around the paddy fields.
The local farmers have already sown paddy seeds with the arrival of monsoon season.
But water gushing out from Imphal river has submerged the paddy fields together with paddy seeds which have germinated.
Farmers are fearful that the germinated seeds would have perished due to prolonged submergence.
Ngangou paddy fields is fed water from Imphal river by diverting water to the paddy fields through Atoukhong Khongnin canal.
Imphal river and Atoukhong canal are connected through three culverts which are equipped three feet broad shutters.
But these shutters have all worn out due to improper maintenance during the last many years.
With the shutters no more functioning properly, water from Imphal river gushes to the canal whenever water surface of Imphal river rises.
This often resulted in flooding of Ngangou paddy fields.
The flood situation was discussed in a public held today at Atoukhong Karong ground under the aegis of the Rural Affairs United Clubs Organisation.
The meeting adopted several resolutions.
Urging upon authorities concerned to do major repairing of the Atoukhong canal culverts, development of river banks from the starting point of Atoukhong till Haoreibi Leihao Makhong under PMGSY and constitution of Ngangou Area Development Works Monitoring Committee to ensure that the resolutions are put into actions were some of the resolutions adopted at the meeting.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, secretary of the Lilong Kendra Development Committee Sirajudin Khan said that the Atoukhong canal culverts were built around 1970.Since then, no major repairing has been done.
On account of these worn out culverts, flooding of Ngangou paddy fields has become a regular occurrence, Sirajudin lamented.