In between August and the winter season last year, as many as 6/7 landslides and mudslides had repeatedly occurred at the site rendering untold misery to the local populace as no measures have been initiated for a permanent solution
TFM Kangpokpi Representative
Few months after a massive mudslide caused problems at Lamlenkon near Tujang Vaichong sub-divisional headquarters in Kangpokpi district, another similar mudslide of the same magnitude wreaked havoc on Saturday morning following the continuous downpour in the last two to three days. Lamlenkon is located about 37 Kms away from Kangpokpi district headquarters.
Early on Saturday, the local populace witnessed a similar massive mudslide at around 2:30 am at the same Lamlenkon. This has disrupted the busy traffic movement along the only lifeline of the area Imphal-Tamenglong road but inundating a vast area of the land including the road and paddy field.
The state’s oldest highway Imphal-Tamenglong road is the only connectivity and lifeline of more than 70/80 villages with more than 20,000 populations.
Continuous heavy rainfall has swept Kangpokpi district including the Tujang Vaichong area for the past 2/3 days since March 24 evening which is the main factor for yet another massive landslide at Lamlenkon.
The heavy rainfall has also raised the water level at Irang river and almost swept away a Maruti Gypsy ferrying a medical team which fortunately was rescued by the locals of Tujang Vaichong and its neighboring villages who were at Lamlenkon busy with clearing the debris of this morning mudslide.
The heavy mudslide at Lamlenkon also trapped around 3/4 passengers and private vehicles. However, the locals with the help of JCB reduced them safely.
The distress call sent out immediately by KSO Twilang Block President Enock Kipgen was promptly responded by newly sworn-in Minister Awangbow Newmai and the district administrator Kengoo Zuringla, DC Kangpokpi.
With the help of the Minister and District Administrator, the local denizens supervised by the Joint Monitoring Development Committee of IT Road and KSO Twilang Block could begin to clear the debris which is still in progress till the filing of this report.
Speaking to the media, KSO Twilang Block President Enock Kipgen said that owing to the heavy mudslides, the Twilang area has been completely cut off once again while many vehicles have also been stranded as there cannot be any more vehicle movement along the Imphal-Tamenglong road.
Enock Kipgen said that every time this landslide and mudslide occurred it looks as if the area is a deserted place where there is no Government. He also conveyed the people’s distress as to how they would survive during the monsoon season when such a natural calamity could occur even with 2/3 days continuous rainfall.
“We are trying to find a permanent solution with the Government but it [the government] is not willing to find it [a permanent solution] over the repeated incident”, he asserted.
However, he said, with the assurance of Minister Awangbow Newmai and DC Kangpokpi, we once again embarked on the same temporary solution of clearing the debris.
The KSO Twilang Block President then said, “Clearing debris on every landslide and mudslide is no more a solution, we want a permanent solution”. If such a disaster could happen due to a few days of rainfall, what would be the fate of more than 20,000 Twilang population during monsoon season, he asked and sought the urgent attention of the state government and authority concerned for a permanent solution.
Lamlenkon near Tujang Vaichong sub-divisional headquarters has become famous for frequent landslides and mudslides since August last when the first massive mudslide submerged around 30 hectares of paddy field and more than 300 metres of the state oldest highway Imphal-Tamenglong road.
Unfortunately, compensation for the affected paddy field is yet to be delivered while the farmers are reeling under tremendous hardships despite the CSOs demanding appropriate compensation for the affected farmers.
It may be recalled that the state Chief Minister’s Facebook post over the first massive landslide at Lamlenkon had invited wide condemnation from all sections as it reportedly hurt the sentiment of the people when the CM allegedly blamed deforestation and poppy cultivation for the massive mudslide instead of finding a permanent solution to address the grievances of the people.
In between August and the winter season last year, as many as 6/7 landslides and mudslides had repeatedly occurred at the site rendering untold misery to the local populace as no measures have been initiated for a permanent solution, according to the locals.
Every time such landslides and mudslides occurred, the only solution was the Joint Monitoring Development Committee, KSO Twilang block, and other local bodies clearing the debris tying up with the concerned three MLAs, and sometimes, with the assistance of the Assam Rifles operating in the area without any permanent solution.