The Khuga Dam Right Canal Farmer’s Association (KDRCFA) of Churachandpur in Manipur launched hunger strike from Monday demanding renovation of the Khuga Dam Right Canal, the main inland waterway for irrigation of Churachandpur area.
The agitation will continue until their demands are met, according to the KDRCFA members who had conducted inspection visit to the drought like situation of paddy fields measuring more than 100 hectares at Churachandpur area on Sunday.
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On June 10, the association chairman Seikhopao Misao and secretary Khamlal has submitted an appeal letter to the Chief Engineer of Irrigation and Flood Control department which is now renamed as Water Resources department ‘to immediately intervene by reconstructing the collapsed Khuga Dam main canal at the earliest so that their fields gets water for paddy cultivation’.
It was reported that the Khuga Dam Right Canal particularly between Saipum and Bohlui has been left unattended by the concerned authority since 2017 after the collapse of the dam. As a result villagers have been facing shortage of water supply both for consumption and agricultural purposes.
Meanwhile, the Khundrakpam Kendra Youth Organization (Khokyo) demanded the concerned authority to provide irrigation facilities from Dolaithabi barrage immediately for paddy cultivation and other agricultural activities.
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Information and publicity secretary of Khokyo, in a press release issued to media on Sunday claimed that many farmers in their area are facing untold misery after most of the paddy fields are left fallow due to non availability of proper irrigation facilities.Khokyo also expressed serious concern over the poor quality work of the Dolaithabi barrage.
Meanwhile state chief minister N Biren Singh on Monday visited different localities of Imphal West district to inspect the irrigation facilities under Minor Irrigation Department and paddy fields on the backdrop of the prevailing drought-like situation due to scanty rainfall, DIPR sources said.
He was accompanied by State Planning Board Deputy Chairman and Lamshang MLA S Rajen, Secretary (Minor Irrigation/Water Resources) Jachintha Lazarus, Minor Irrigation Chief Engineer H Brojen and other officials.