Water source of Imphal under threat
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN
Imphal, July 26 2013 :
The water body of Singda Dam, an important water source for Imphal which falls in Senapati district has been threatened by heavy earth fallen into the water due to the construction work for a new road stretching from Kharam Vaiphei village to Singda Water Treatment Plant.
A team of mediapersons visited the dam on Thursday.
During the visit it was found that heavy earth and felling trees plunged from the hillside due to the road development work were continuously filling the dam's water body.
The already shrunken dam could become a failed dam in near future if the present situation becomes worst and if the competent authorities fail to take up prompt steps to stop it.
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State chief minister O Ibobi Singh had in May this year initiated a plan to develop a Brindavan garden in the dam area to attract tourists.
Following that the state Government had announced an eviction drive in the area including its catchment area which prompted stiff opposition from the residents.
The Government had already paid compensation to all the residents of the catchment area following which several residents had shifted to other places.
But still, there are some residents in the area refusing to leave by defying the Government order.
Villagers in the area said the Government is now developing a new road stretching from Kharam Vaiphei to Singda water Treatment Plant.
They said the complex of the Water Treatment Plant in the catchment area is being destroyed while developing the road.
Singda Dam supplies water to Imphal city.
The villagers also said the PHED should not remain silent over the issue since the dam provides water to lakhs of people in the state.
The Government should not take up any policy in the Singda Dam area which is discriminatory toward different communities there, they appealed.