'Master plan being prepared to control flood in valley'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 06 2024: A master-plan is being prepared to control flooding in the valley region, said Water Resources Minister Awangbow Newmai today.

He said this in response to a query raised by MLA Th Lokeshwar in the State Assembly.

The Water Resources Minister said the master plan is being prepared as a permanent measure to control floods with the assistance of the Brahmaputra Board and Ganga Rejuvenation.

The study for the master plan started in 2022, and a report on it is expected by November, he said.

Awangbow further stated that construction of retaining walls is being carried out under the Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP) .

So far, retaining walls have been constructed at 13 locations of Imphal River, he added.

'Master plan being prepared to control flood in valley'

Responding to a query raised by MLA K Ranjit, Awangbow said from July 1 to July 3, Kangpokpi received a total of 184 mm of rainfall resulting in the Imphal River swelling and the water flowing above flood level at Minuthong.

The Imphal River was breached at 7 locations, and on July 2, all the floodgates of the Ithai Barrage were opened, he said.

Responding to another query from MLA O Surjakumar, Awangbow Newmai, who is also the Relief and Disaster Management Minister, said a proposal of Rs 711.42 crore has been submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India which is yet to be sanctioned.

For floods in the wake of Remal, another proposal of Rs 371.58 crore has been submitted and it is also yet to be sanctioned, he said.

Awangbow Newmai further said that for the flood that took place in 2015, the State received a Rs 38.71 crore relief package.

For the 2016 earthquake, the State received Rs 14.65 crore.

For the floods and landslides in 2017, the State received Rs 110.82 crore.

For drought that took place in 2019, the State received Rs 26.53 crore, Awangbow said.

Meanwhile, responding to a question on construction of a cold storage at Ukhrul, raised by MLA K Meghachandra in the House, Chief Minister N Biren said the project is near completion.

The Chief Minister said the project consisting of 8 components started in 2012 with an estimated cost of Rs 3 crore.

With Rs 1.20 crore of the Rs 3 crore released, the work was found stalled after completing only the land development and compound fencing work.

As the Utilization Certificate was not submitted, the project lapsed, he said.

The CM, however, continued that after the arrival of the new Government, the Utilization Certificate was submitted and the Ministry approved the project under the Mega Food Park in 2020 .

Rs 2.50 crore has been released and most of the works have been completed.

The only thing that is left now is to install the machine.

The project will be completed within the current year, he said.