TODAY -
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 24:
Paddy cultivators of Hiyanglam Assembly Constituency are eagerly waiting for completion of the ongoing dredging works of Lamjao canal in Pumlenpat as their lost farm land would once again be suitable for agricultural activities.
A sizeable tract of paddy field have been submerged under water for decades due to construction of Ithai Barrage over the Imphal River course as a part of the Loktak Hydro-Electric Project.
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According to functionaries of Agriculture and Lake Development Society, Arong Khunou under whose supervision the dredging work is in full swing, deepening of the Lamjaokhong (canal) could drain the water from Pumlenpat into the Imphal River and at the same time maintain the water level for sustaining the Loktak Project.
The dredging work on completion would inter-link the lakes of Ikoppat, Khoidumpat, Kharungpat and Pumlenpat through the three main canals namely Lamjaokhong, Dhaballokhong and Nongmaikhong by directing the excess water towards Imphal River.
The fact that there have been steady rainfall in the past few weeks is further boosting the canal dredging activities as cutting and clearing of biomasses from the adjoining lakes have been easier due to rise in the water level.
the same work is informed to have been initiated under the SJRY funding five years back with periodical stoppages due to fund constraint coupled with unsatisfactory progress in the initial period as use of machines had been minimal resulting in coverage of hardly five kilometre long although the target set for the project is 15 kilometres.
As per comments of the Society's functionaries construction of the Ithai barrage caused large scale inundation of thousands of hectare of cultivable land before the said area took the shape of a lake.
Besides plantation of paddy the area was fertile and highly suitable for growing cabbage/cauliflower, mustard and potato.
Villagers settled in and near Arong-Nongmaikhong are dependent on river source for sustaining their livelihood as adopting agriculture like paddy plantation is out of the question with the entire area remaining submerged throughout the year.
Such difficult situation endured by the villagers is said to an important factor for the people devising to dredge the canals with most local labourers feeling satisfaction even though the payment are relatively meagre under the impression that the project is for their own benefit.
It may be mentioned that under the funding of Loktak Development Authority, Mayang Imphal-based Senior Citizens' Forum had dug up and joined Toujengpat and Khomdramkhong in April this year.
Both the canals informed to be five kilometres each had been worked out with the objective of restoring paddy fields inundated by the Loktak Project.
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