Imphal, April 06: The Eikhoigee Club (EC) Singjamei, Oinam Thingel has conveyed strong suspicion of some IFCD officials misappropriating public fund in connivance with some contractors/firms in the name of reinforcing Imphal river bank in Oinam Thingel area without ever executing the work.

Speaking to reporters today, EC general secretary Nandakishore informed that as there has been no restoration or reinforcement work in the last three years, thickness of the river bank has been reduced to just 50 percent at several vulnerable and worn out portions.

Moreover, with the embankment left out after being dug out deep, there is the possibility of the bank caving in as and when monsoon arrives, he observed.

In 2005, some persons including SO Pishak from Thangmeiband came to Oinam Thingel with an excavator saying that the embankment would be strengthened by filling earth.

Even though the embankment was dug up, there was no earth filling.

In the next year too, the Department acted as if they were actually reinforcing the worn out river bank but they left the work undone.

Last year, about 5/6 truck loads of earth were off loaded along the river bank.

They also dug out the river bank 5/6 feet deep.

The earth thus excavated was spread around just to make it appear that earth filling work had been executed.

Since then the workers and the officials have never come back, Nandakishore conveyed.

In case the river bank breaches at any point here, the whole area from Singjamei to Lilong will be flooded.

He further appealed to all the clubs and organisations of the area to strive together so that the worn out portions of Imphal river bank are restored and strengthen before the arrival of monsoon season.

The people of Oinam Thingel have also decided to file complaints against the IFCD to the IFC Minister, the Chief Engineer and the Chief Secretary.

In case the authority fails to take up necessary actions in response to the complaint, the MP candidates fielded by the coalition partners of the SPF Government will be boycotted.

The Club also lamented the failure of local MLA I Hemochandra to take up any initiative to repair the worn out embankment even though he used to come at times of flood.

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