IMPHAL, April 24: Land encroachers around the Singda Dam area, which is the main source of water for the entire Imphal West district and Imphal city should be evicted so as to save the dam in its natural condition.
The statement was made by the pradhan of the Lairenkabi-Kangdangban Gram Panchayat N Boby Singh while briefing media persons at Panchayat Ghar of the area flanked by locals.
During the media briefing, he said that the Singda Dam has an area of 531 acres, out of which 374 acres is in the revenue district of Imphal West while the remaining portion of the Dam is in Senapati district.
There has been a large scale encroachment around the land portion which falls under the Senapati district, he claimed and added they (encroachers) have done a lot of damage in the catchment area of the dam, by introducing cattle farming.
They are also involved in the large scale cutting down of trees in their encroached areas to meet their day to day economic necessities, he said.
Further expressing his concern, he said, a major road is being constructed on the hilltop, south of the dam.
The loose soil due to the road construction is being dumped inside the dam which has made the dam shallower.
Since, the encroachment in the catchment areas is aiding degenerate the natural lifespan of the Singda Dam, they (encroachers) need to be evicted at the earliest, he clamoured.
He also suggested domestic animal should not be grazed in the catchment area and further appealed to the government of Manipur to enforce tree plantation in the catchment area.
Meanwhile, the All Manipur Nupi Marup has said in a press release that due to the scarcity of water in the state, the people are suffering immensely, especially the poor.
Although the government has promised to install mobile water supplies, it is impossible to provide water to all, it said.
Lack of long term plan to supply water in a tropical area like Manipur is an embarrassment, says AMNM.
Meanwhile, the Conservation of Paddy Land and Natural Resources Protection Committee Manipur has said in a press release that the drastic change in environment is due to man’s negligence.
The committee has further appealed to the concerned authorities to check the vulnerability of the outbreak of diseases due to the water scarcity.
It cautioned that with the water scarcity hitting hard, there is a high chance of the outbreak of several water borne diseases.