Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, December 01, 2009:
Charoilok River in Bishnupur district has provided a lifeline for many villagers who have no particular work to earn a living.
The people of Manipur have, though lately, begun to realise the significance of the epithet to the river �gold filled river' given by the people since long time back.
Located some 30 kilometres south of Imphal, the Charoilok river originates from Narkhong river that passes through Kha-Potshangbam in Bishnupur district.
Kha-potshangbam, Nachou, Upokpi, Toupokpi, Aimol village and Project Chingkhong surround the river.
People of the surrounding villages had not realised that a good quality sands are available at the bank of the river.
Incidentally, the people engaged in collecting sands and stones in the Lamangdong Thongjurok river begun to venture in the Charoilok river after the sands are declining at Lamangdong Thongjurok river.
The discovery of plenty of quality sands in the Charoilok river has enabled many workers of the surrounding villages to collect sands for earning their livelihood.
Wahengbam Radha (43), a working person, of Kha-Potshangbam Maning Awang said, the river was unexplored earlier.
When heavy rains poured in during monsoons, the river water carried away many sands and rested them on the nearby fields.
The then MLA, K Govindas dug parts of the river using JCB in order to prevent the spread of sands by the river water in 2001.Then the people come to know about the presence of quality sands and stones in the river, W Rahda said, adding that Manipur is really a land of jewels.
Potshangbam Shanti (60) of Kha-Potshangbam Mamang said, the surrounding villagers of the river are left with no particular work to earn their living other than working on rented paddy fields.
However, after the discovery of the sands in the river, a villager could easily earn Rs 400/500 daily.
He said, the sands are categorised into two qualities.
Good quality sand is sold at Rs 1,400 per load while the other quality is sold at Rs 700 per load.
Stones are sold at Rs 500/600 per load while boulders are sold at Rs 800 per load.