'Rescuing flood victims first priority'
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 29 2024:
Water Resources Minister Awangbow Newmai has categorically stated that the first priority of the State Government in flood-hit Manipur is to relocate the flood victims to safer places.
He made the statement while inspecting some waterlogged sites in Imphal today along with Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi, Additional Chief Secretary MH Khan, Imphal East DC Khumanthem Diana and other officials.
Speaking to the media by the sideline, Awangbow Newmai said that the State Government has started evacuating people from severely flooded areas.
Saying that evacuation of the flood victims is the first priority of the Government, the Minister added that some relief camps have been set up to shelter the evacuees.
Awangbow Newmai continued that other flood management measures will also be taken up after the evacuation exercise is completed.
The Minister said that the severe flooding in Manipur is a fallout of the widespread deforestation in hilly areas and encroachment on the river banks in valley districts.
Saying that the Government has been standing against encroachment and deforestation, the Minister maintained that a support of the people is needed to check deforestation and encroachment on protected lands.
Many rivers which flow in valley districts have become narrower due to encroachment and many of them no longer possess the characteristics to be called rivers, Awangbow Newmai continued.
Settlement on river banks is against the law, the Minister said and expressed concern over the rivers becoming shallower.
Rivers in valley districts are likely to get overflowed whenever there is a heavy and incessant rainfall as they (the rivers) have become shallower, he added.
The Minister further stated that the increasing cases of landslides in hill districts is directly associated with the rampant deforestation.
Drawing the attention of the people, Awangbow Newmai said that whatever the State Government has been doing is in the interest of the people.
He also said that the policy and programme of the Government won't become successful without the support of the people.