Cabinet Sub-Committee to study drought situation
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 20 2012:
The prevailing drought situation was deliberated in a Cabinet meeting for the second time today following which a Cabinet Sub-Committee was set up to make spot assessment of paddy fields.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting which was presided by Chief Minister O Ibobi, Education Minister M Okendro conveyed that the Cabinet meeting deliberated at length on the drought like situation.
Together with setting up of a Cabinet Sub-Committee with the Chief Minister as Chairman, ministerial teams comprising of two Ministers each would start direct assessment of paddy fields across the four valley districts starting from tomorrow.
The meeting agreed on constituting four Ministerial teams comprising of Commerce and Industries Minister K Govindas and IFC Minister Ngamthang for Bishnupur district, Education Minister M Okendro and RD&PR Minister Francis Ngajokpa for Thoubal district, Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar and Social Welfare Minister AK Mirabai for Imphal West district, Speaker Th Lokeshore and PHE Minister I Hemochandra for Imphal East district.
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The Ministerial teams would be assisted by District Agriculture Officers and staff during their field inspection, said Okendro.
He further informed that necessary measures would be initiated to sow paddy seeds for later transplantation and also to make diesel available to farmers at subsidised rate.
Till yesterday, Manipur received only 63 per cent of the average rainfall rate generally received during Kharif season.
Manipur received 43 per cent rainfall rate in 2009 when Manipur was formally declared as drought-hit, said the Education Minister.
As the rainfall rate is little higher this year compared to 2009, the Government has intention to study the situation more minutely for some more days.
Okendro said that the report collected by the ministerial teams would be studied in another Cabinet meeting.
Nevertheless, Agriculture Department has been already instructed to prepare a contingency plan in case the ministerial teams confirm drought or drought like situation.
The Cabinet meeting discussed about law and order situation too.