By James Khangenbam Imphal 16 March 2023
Kanglapat
The Ministry of Jal Shakti has identified 75 Water Heritage Structures (WHS) including Kangla Moat (Kanglapat) of Manipur in reference to 75 years of India s Independence. The sites were recommended by a committee formed by the ministry from a total of 421 nominations received through states/UTs, central agencies, NGOs and general public and these include four Water Heritage Structures from Assam and one each from Manipur, Meghalaya and Mizoram from among the northeast states. In this connection, “Jal-Itihas” sub-portal under India-WRIS portal, showcasing the 75 WHS, was launched on January 5 at the 1st All India State Ministers Conference on Water held in Bhopal.
At present there is no central fund allocated/ disbursed for maintenance of these sites. As per information available on the pbrtal, Kanglapat was dug up during the rule of King Khunjaoba (1652-1666).The government of Manipur declared it as a protected area under the provision of “The Manipur Ancient and Historical Monument and Archaeological Site and Remains Act, 1976.On the other hand, the ministry, in 2023-24, Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) of Rs 70,000 Crore, proposed for implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission, which is Rs 15,000 crore more than the budgetary provision of Rs 55,000 crore for 2022-23.The state/UT-wise allocation of funds under the JJM is decided as per the provisions of its Operational Guidelines.
For 2022-23, the ministry allocated Rs 512.05 crore for JJM projects to Manipur. At the same time, the ministry had sanctioned Rs 21.93 crore in 2018-19, Rs 30.50 crore in 2019-20, Rs 23.51 crore in 2020-21, Rs 11.75 crore in 2021-22, and Rs 24.87 crore in 2022-23 to Manipur under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana – Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (PMKSY-AIBP) .
With the fund, the state government had created irrigation potential in 2390 hectares in 2018-19, nil in 2019-20, 3790 hectares in 2020-21, and 920 hectares in 2021-22.Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) was launched during 2015-16 by the Central Government with an aim to enhance physical access of water on farm and expand cultivable area under assured irrigation, improve on-farm water use efficiency, introduce sustainable water conservation practices, with the components: Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP), Command Area Development & Water Management (CADWM), Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI)/Repair, Renovation & Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies and Ground Water Irrigation in this Department.
