Our Correspondent
Imphal, Feb. 22 (EMN): Chief Minister N Biren Singh informed during the ongoing assembly that a joint body will look into the operation of the Ithai Barrage and to monitor the hydrology of Loktak Lake and frequent flash floods in the state during monsoon.
Chief Minister Biren was supplementing to Water Resources Minister Letpao Haokip’s answer to the queries raised by opposition Congress MLA Kangujam Ranjit Singh during the 14th day of the ongoing 4th Session of 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly on Thur.
Biren Singh said that he took up the matter along with the governor at a personnel level and urged Union Minister (Power) RK Singh for its removal. Though there is no formal reply from the ministry, an understanding has been reached that a Joint Committee, including officials of the state, will timely monitor operations of Ithai Barrage (gates) as and when required. He assured that the barrage will be operated jointly during the monsoon.
Earlier replying to the question, Water Resources Minister Letpao informed the assembly that there is no plan to remove Ithai barrage. No letter has also been written to centre in this regard. But he admitted that the barrage creates siltation in the impounded areas.
The barrage which was built across Manipur river, was controlled by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) since the commissioning of Loktak multipurpose project in 1983. The project required that the water level of Loktak Lake, which in reality comprises not less than a dozen smaller lakes with a fluctuating hydrological regime, is maintained at a constant level of 768.9 m throughout the year to provide adequate supply for the hydro project.
As a result, a huge agricultural as well as settlement area on the periphery of the lake was adversely affected. Besides almost all the low lying areas of the state were routinely inundated every year during the rainy season due to the concerned authority’s failure to open the barrage gates on time.
