Farmers repairing broken Khuga canal all by themselves
Source: Chronicle News Service / Kaimuanthang Mangte

Churachandpur, June 23 2021: Farmers living or working on the rightside canal of Khuga Multipurpose Dam are a worried lot these days after the canal broke last week, impeding the flow of irrigational water.

The worried farmers are mending the canal all by themselves by donating Rs 1000 per household and those who are unable to make the monetary donation pledge to pay the value of the money with food grain produces at the year's end (harvesting time).

The farmers are left with no choice but to find ways by themselves after requests made for repairing the canal to several government departments including IFCD failed, citing lack of funds, said Xavier Nengkhanlam, spokesperson of the Khuga Right Side Canals Farmers' Association.

Two JCB excavators and one tipper truck are put into service courtesy of the district administration and the farmers themselves bear the cost of fuel and are now mending the broken canal by diverting its course which is about 100 to 200 metres in length.

According the spokesperson of the association, Saipum village chief has donated the land for diversion of the course of the canal as around 200 farmers are engaged in repairing the canal.

He expressed hope that the water would pass the canal within short notice.

The spokesperson further said that if the right side canal is maintained properly about 900 hectares of field could be turned into agricultural land but only 300 hectares of paddy field are being used for cultivation as of now and that too severely affected.

Not only at this portion, about 180 metres from the place they are mending on Wednesday, the banks of the canal have also been damaged, he said and expressed fear that if they crumble they will totally submerge the entire Saipum village.

With the money they raised through donations, the farmers bought 18 feet long pipes with 10 inches in diameter to be installed in the canal.

Xavier then appealed to the government and authorities concerned to pay attention to their plight as they have no hope of getting funds for mending the canal which is poorly maintained, adding that farmers will no longer be able to maintain the canal.

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