Leimakhong

Leimakhong is a small town in the Kangpokpi district[a] in Manipur, India. It is on Kangpokpi's border with the Imphal West district, approximately 30Km west of the Imphal city. It is on the bank of the Leimakhong River[b], a tributary of the Imphal River. The town is inhabited by Kuki, Nepali and Meitei communities. According to the 2011 census, the town had a population of 3544.[1]

Leimakhong contains the headquarters of the 57th Mountain Division of the Indian Army.[2] The military hospital in the divisional headquarters has been often used to treat injured personnel and civilians.[3]

Villages

Some of the villages in Leimakhong are:

  • Leimakhong Bazar
  • Prem Nagar
  • Chingmang
  • P moulding
  • Khunkho
  • Dwarka

Power generation

Leimakhong has the distinction of housing the original power generation capacity of Manipur dating back to 1930. Two micro hydro-electric power stations with capacities of 100 KW and 56 KW were installed here.[4] The original power station was washed way due to a land slide in June 1962.[5]

At present, Leimakhong has a micro hydro-electric power station with a capacity 600 KW and a furnace oil-based (heavy fuel-based) power house with a capacity of 36 MW. The cost of the latter is said to be abnormally high. In addition, there are several diesel power houses on standby for emergency usage.[6][7]

In January 2024, in the midst of 2023–2024 Manipur violence, the furnace oil from the power station is said to have leaked. It contaminated the Leimakhong river, causing a serious environmental concern.[8]

Notes

  1. ^ Prior to 2017 it was in the Sadar Hills region of the Senapati district,
  2. ^ Sometimes referred to as "Tumu Lairembi" river

References

  1. ^ "Leimakhong Manipur". www.census2011.co.in. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  2. ^ "Army launches massive hunt operation in Manipur against militants after deadliest attack in 33 years". The Times of India. 5 June 2015.
  3. ^ "Two Assam Rifles jawans die, 6 hurt in Manipur blast - Times of India". The Times of India. 14 November 2017.
  4. ^ Ministry of Power 2023, p. 3.
  5. ^ Irrigation & Power: The Journal of the Central Board of Irrigation & Power, Volumes 20-21, India. Central Board of Irrigation and Power, 1963, p. 194, Following heavy rains, there were landslides in the upper reaches of the Leimakhong River, tributary of the Imphal and at the power house site. The mass of boulders and earth which came down filled the entire bed of the river and changed its course. The old power house, with its machinery and equipment, was washed away at 9:30 A.M. on the 10th June.
  6. ^ Ministry of Power 2023, p. 11.
  7. ^ Power supply and load development, Manipur State Power Company Limited, retrieved 15 January 2024.
  8. ^ Four men feared dead in Manipur; combustible fluid mixes in rivulet, The Hindu, 11 January 2024.

Bibliography

24°56′35″N 93°50′24″E / 24.9430°N 93.8399°E / 24.9430; 93.8399