THOUBAL, May 24: People of Keirak area in Kakching have demanded the concerned authorities to repair the Sekmai River breach at a place locally known as Kh Ibocha’s plot in Keirak Makha Leikai leaving several localities in the area inundated.
The locals warned that if the concerned authorities fail to do the needful including payment of compensation and mending the river banks within 15 days, they will launch severe forms of agitations against the government.
The 100-feet wide breach had occurred on Sunday about 500 metres downstream of Sekmai Barrage. Locals identified that the river bank had breached at the same spot during last year’s June-July torrential downpour.
They lamented despite two days since the breach, no government authorities have come to either repair the breached river bank or assist the locals cope with the flood.
Locals called a press conference today at the Public Youth Club Keirak Makha Leikai.
Acting as the spokesperson, club secretary Elangbam Chourjeet said the government seems to have forgotten that people of Keirak are also citizens of the State.
He said although the embankments of the Sekmai River running through Keirak are not strong, the department has never looked into the issue.
Lamenting that the river had breach at the same spot last year also, Chourjeet condemned the local MLA for not taking up properly since last year, despite being fully aware that the river banks were weak and could be dangerous during the monsoon.
He alleged that last year after the floods, in the name of mending the embankments, the MLA along with some of his supporters had packed loose sand from the nearby areas and used it to strengthen the embankment.
It is only due to the negligence of the MLA, that the people are facing today’s situation, he added.
The club secretary has also demanded that the concerned authorities should take befitting action against contractor M Koireng and staff of the concerned department who were involved in the improper work undertaken last year.
He further said there are many places on both sides of the river where the river banks are weak. He identified the places where cracks had appeared on the river banks to be near the plots of Sandham Lukhoi, Huidrom Inaocha, Yumnam Kullachandra, Elangbam Surchandra, Md Nijamuddin, Leithanthem Chandrakumar and Yumnam Hiden.
He said the government should properly compensate the affected families at the earliest and steps should be taken up to mend the river banks within 15 days.