Northeast

Farmers demand revival of Arongkhong canal

The state government had buried the canal with earth for the construction of a market at Kakching Khunou Lamkhai in 2014, Arongkhong Farmers Welfare Association president Ksh Maipak said.

ByKakching Correspondent

Updated 8 Jun 2022, 5:39 am

(PHOTO: IFP)
(PHOTO: IFP)

Arongkhong Farmers Welfare Association, Kakching on Tuesday demonstrated a sit-in protest demanding the state government to revive the Arongkhong canal at Kakching Khunou in Kakching district, Manipur.

Speaking at the event, Arongkhong Farmers Welfare Association president Ksh Maipak said that a proper water canal is crucial in the cultivation of paddy products. Since the farmers will not be able to harvest paddy products properly without a water canal, the Arongkhong Farmers Welfare Association, Kakching is adamantly demanding for a proper water canal.

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He added that Arongkhong had been providing water for cultivation to the paddy fields at the northern side of the Kakching Khunou since time immemorial. He mentioned that the Arongkhong canal was also included in the 1960 land map of the Manipur government. But in 2014, the state government had buried the canal with earth for the construction of a market at Kakching Khunou Lamkhai, he continued.

Considering the potential benefits of the market to the general public, the farmers settled to manage with an alternative canal, he said. But the water demands for cultivation exceeded the capability of the new canal and it had been running dry, he added.

Ksh Maipak further informed that although the Arongkhong canal had been buried to the ground in 2014, the land seems to be occupied by private owners rather than constructing the market at Kakching Khunou Lamkhai as the state government had assured.

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He appealed to the state government to excavate the buried lands for the revival of the Arongkhong canal. He cautioned that if the state government fails to meet the demands of the distressed farmers by June 15, agitations and protests of the farmer community will follow.

During the protest, the protesters displayed placards that read, ‘Save our paddy fields’, and ‘Don’t kill the farmers’.
 

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kakchingArongkhong FarmersArongkhong canal

Kakching Correspondent

Kakching Correspondent

Kakching, Manipur

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