IMPHAL, July 9: The water of the Mapithel dam has increased in such an alarming rate that it has submerged more human settlements surrounding the dam and further threatens to do so.
A team of media persons visited the affected villages wherein it had encountered untold hardship the villagers has been facing due to the apathy of the government towards the plight of the villages.
During the visit, the villagers interacted with the media team and highlighted their grievances.
The villagers in despair said that they have lost their faith in the government and that the act of the State government amounts to chasing the villages from their homesteads.
The rising water level of the dam has also recently submerged the United Christian Academy (UCA), a government recognised private high school near Riha village of Ukhrul.
Speaking to media persons, the founder principal cum proprietor of Academy, Honreikhui Kashung said expressed his remorse that the school, church and the entire village have been submerged in the water.
He revealed that UCA have produced many matriculate students since it was established on February 11, 2003.
12 teacher quarters, hostels for both boys and girls have been submerged due to the increasing water.
He lamented that the career of students have been destroyed by the Ibobi led Manipur government adding that hopes of many parents to provide their wards with proper education have been shattered.
Another villager, MH Ramkahao opined that they (affected villagers) will not shift from their villagers to other places.
The government has totally neglected the affected villagers of the area despite the hue and cry, he said.
He further said that the no prior information was given to the villagers that their villages would be displaced by the dam.
A comprehensive survey was taken place with heavy security personnel without the permission of land owners, he divulged.
The villagers informed that media team that they will stick to their 26 points charter of demands.
In the meantime, the villagers surrounding the Mapithel Dam has alleged that authority concerned responsible for constructing the dam has disregarded the verdict of the High Court Manipur to re-assist the affected villages submerged by the water of the dam.
It is learnt that villagers informed the media persons that they filed petition to the High Court on June first week pleading the court to direct the authority concerned to address the plight of the villagers affected by the dam.
Despite having issued a verdict on June 28, the government has failed to take up any initiative to address the woes of the affected villagers, the villagers contended.
It has been informed that the villagers have also submitted a reminder to Chief Secretary, commissioner and chief engineer of IFCD; chief engineer of PWD and DC of Ukhrul yet the authorities concerned remained a silent spectator.
