Victims of flood condition in Churachandpur villages expressed hope of the situation improving, as MLA LM Khaute visited the villages and assured them that all possible steps will be taken to prevent the impact of monsoon.
“For the past many years villagers were left to fend for themselves. No VIPs ever came to visit us… now that the MLA has visited us, we look forward to his intervention on the issue soon,” a 75-year-old Vialzakham, who has been experiencing numerous flood situation over the years, said.
Villages along the Eastern Khuga river downstream in Churachandpur’s Meitei Christian Leikai, Nengthawng Veng and Kerith Veng have been innundated and several homes and agricultural lands submerged due to the incessant rainfall in the district for the past several days.
The rising water level of Khuga river is posing a grave danger to the surrounding villages. It is feared that the strong river current may erode the approach road to the villages further if the rains continue. The road connecting the villages have been getting narrower by the year due to soil erosion caused by the river water during every rainy season, posing a threat to the lives of the villagers.
Villagers remained cut off owing to the damage to the road. In view of it, the visiting MLA accompanied by district officials on June 24 provided some relief, including food items to the flood victims.
The said villages of Meitei Christian Leikai, Nengthawng Veng and Keirth Veng, along the eastren Khuga river downstream are severely affected every monsoon for over decades. Every year these villagers were affected by recurring flood and large part of their lands and agricultural fields have been submerged and washed away by the river water.
Many patta-lands that were surveyed earlier had been submerged by the river. Many families have fled from their villages as their residential and agriculture lands were destroyed and submerged by the river.
The Inter Village public Road (IVR) is the only existing village road (IVR) between Churachandpur Lamka town and the said villages. This public road lies on the eastern bank of the Khuga river and every year huge portion of the connecting road is eroded and carried away by the river current.
Earlier, this inter-village road was made motorable but now it has become just a footpath.
Villagers are hopeful that their situation will improve as MLA Khaute took stock of the situation.
During his interaction with the affected villagers, the MLA reassured that measures will be taken up to control and prevent flood damages in the future.
Other villagers also expressed confidence in the MLA and that measure such as flood control and effective anti-erosion measures will be in place soon for the villages.
Must Read:
Efforts wasted, hopes shattered as off-grid electricity fails in Manipur’s interior villages
PLHIVs, school dropouts weave stories of hope and resilience in Manipur’s Ukhrul district
