Loktak folks point at NHPC, WRD
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 03 2025: The Loktak Project Affected Areas Farmers and Land Owners Association (LPAAFLOA) has put the blame for the extensive flood in Manipur on the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (NHPC) and the Water Resources Department (WRD), calling on them to take full responsibility for the devastation.

Addressing a press conference at Manipur Press Club today, LPAAFLOA general secretary Angom Tiken stated that the heavy rainfall that hit Manipur from May 28 caused a significant rise in the water levels of various rivers.

Saying that Leimakhong, Sekmai, Kongba, Iril, Thoubal, and Khuga River flow into the Manipur River, he added that the authorities should have taken the rise of the Manipur River water level seriously.

He said that LPAAFLOA had requested NHPC officials in advance to open the Ithai Barrage gates on the Manipur River.

Saying that gate no 2, 3, 4, and later 1 of the Ithai Barrage were opened on May 30 at around 5:30 am after sounding a siren, he added that gate no 5, however, remains closed till today.

He added that timely opening of all the gates of Ithai Barrage could have prevented the swelling of Imphal, Kongba, and Iril rivers, thereby mitigating the collapse of their embankments.

Moreover, there was no indication that the WRD had urged NHPCL to open the gates of the barrage, Tiken said and added that WRD and NHPCL must take full responsibility for the widespread floods.

He also claimed that the 35-year lease period for the Loktak Project, which includes the Ithai Barrage, expired in 2018.Tiken urged the authorities to either decommission the Ithai Barrage, which was built to regulate the water level of Loktak Lake and generate power, or entrust its management to engineers and officials familiar with Manipur's hills and valleys.

It is unfortunate the WRD can't seem to assert its authority over NHPC, despite the latter earning crores from the Loktak Project.

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