Farmers appeal for releasing water on Thoubal canal
Source: Chronicle News Service
Thoubal, May 10 2025:
Farmers of Thoubal Nongangkhong, Ningombam, Sabaltongba, and Moijing, who are cultivating pre-season paddy using irrigation water from Thoubal canal, which is part of Maphou Dam (Thoubal Multipurpose Project), are facing water shortage as the dam has stopped releasing water to the canal for almost half a month now.
Speaking to The People's Chronicle, one of the affected farmers, Waikhom Ibotomba of Thoubal Mayai Leikai, stated that farmers having fields beside the canal had taken up widespread cultivation of pre-season paddy in view of the rise in prices of food items due to shortages caused by the ongoing turmoil in the state.
But at a time when the paddy crops are in the flowering stage and water requirement is essential, water has not been released to the canal for half a month now.
This has resulted in most of the fields becoming bone dry and has damaged the standing crops, he rued.
Ibotomba further urged the authorities concerned to look into the matter and ease the problems of the farmers.