Dam opening notification panics Moirangpurel locals

From Our Correspondent

THOUBAL | Nov 28

Locals residing at the downstream of Thoubal Multipurpose project dam, which is built at the source of Thoubal River, went into panic when they were notified by the authorities concerned that the water being held up by the dam will be released in a few days.

In this regard, advisor of Moirangpurel Panthoibi Youth Club, Sobha Hijam who lives at Moirangpurel village located at the downstream said the people who had been residing at villages like Moirangpurel, Tumukhong and Itham used to earn their livelihood by collecting sand from the river before the multipurpose project dam was built.

The work at the river used to give support to many poor families, and help the education of their children. The sand collected from Moirangpurel village, was quite popular as “Moirangpurel gi leingoi.” However, the black sand ran out in the last two years after the dam blocked the river and it was no longer found in Moirangpurel and Tumukong villages, he said.

It may be mentioned that the people who were facing the odds, having no other means of living, turned to collecting the red sand from the hills to go on with their lives. But unfortunately, the forest department put a ban to their work. Since, they have no other means of living they are now struggling very hard to make both ends meet.  

 She further said what came out of the blue, is the notification being given to the villagers by the workers of IFCD department, that the water on the other side of the dam will be release towards the downstream in a few days.

Leaflets that warned the villagers to remain alert were handed out. Upon asking the workers of the department as to why the water was going to be released, they were told that some of the pipes had been blocked up and they needed to release the water for cleaning the pipes.

The reason why the villagers are getting panicked at the notification is that the released water from the dam will submerge most of the paddy fields and destroy it. The villagers are losing their sleep as the water will not allow the fields to grow any vegetables after the harvesting is done.  All their dreams of earning some extra money in the winter season are put at peril.

Making the situation even worse, if the water is released the villagers of Moirangpurel will no longer be able to cross the river as there are no bridges and this will directly cut off all means of earning to a lot of people.  

The locals appealed to the government to send in an expert team and take a detailed survey before the water is released and its potential dangers.