• NET Web Desk

In light of the flood-like situations at the Ethai Barrage catchment area due to incessant rainfall, the Manipur Chief Minister – N Biren Singh has issued an order for constant monitoring of the situation, and the state Water Resources Department has taken adequate precautions at the barrage site.

According to an official statement, the Barrage and Power House are currently operating normally; and the crucial subject has been thoroughly discussed with the Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), and the group General Manager of Loktak Power Station.

Upstream of the Imphal River, normal Full Reservoir Levels (FRL) are being maintained, and normal water levels are being recorded in Loktak Lake.

As per the Manipur Water Resources department statement, barrage gates are now being operated in accordance with the Standard Operating Protocol. In contrast to the normal discharge of roughly 90 cubic metres per second (cumec), the flood discharge of about 235 cumec is safely passing downstream, and the Central Gate is already open with a gate opening of 1.5 metres.

Meanwhile, the department has also unveiled a control room, which is always on high alert to cope-up with any flood-related scenario.

The issue is being closely monitored by NHPC officials and engineers from the Water Resources department, according to the department.

The Manipur Transport Directorate has also forbidding loaded trucks with a gross vehicle weight of more than 24 MT from crossing the damaged bridge at Motbung on the NH-02 between Imphal and Kohima.