Drought like situation in State
Govt not doing enough, says N Mangi
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 07 2009: Charging the State Government with not taking up necessary measures to combat the drought situation in the State inspite of the 'drought affected' status announced earlier, CPI MLA N Mangi has stated that 10 litres of fuel being provided is not enough for running the engines to irrigate the parched paddy field.

Raising a call attention motion which was subsequently converted into a short duration discussion during the Assembly session today, Mangi observed that the engines, with generating capacities of 25 horse power, being provided cannot ensure irrigation to more than 25 hectares of paddy field.

Barren fields testify the toll taken on the paddy fields by the dry spell

Though the Minor Irrigation has constructed many dams there is no water and no co-ordinated efforts are seen among related departments in taking up measures on a war footing to combat the drought like situation, the MLA said, while drawing the attention of the Chief Minister to provide adequate fuel to enable running engines for at least 10 hours a day and allocate necessary fund in the budget.

Participating in the discussion, MLA Joy of MPP alleged that Ministers and officials are combating the drought only on paper at their respective tables.

No officials of the Agriculture Department are inspecting the parched paddy field and there is no co-ordination between the Chief Engineers of Minor Irrigation and the IFC Department.

Joy also stressed on reoperation of the RLI schemes which are lying defunct to combat drought in the State.

Dr I Ibohalbi of CPI pointed out that Imphal canal should be dredged properly and the water released in full capacity so as to reap the benefits.

Ng Bijoy of MPP urged for increasing the number of water pumps sets being provided to each Assembly Constituency.

MLA Anand said it would be wiser to exert pressure on the Government of India to declare Manipur a drought affected State. Even though the Government of Manipur has declared the State as drought affected, the Government of India is yet to approve it till date.

MLA Lokeshore emphasised on producing high yield seeds through co-ordinated efforts of MI, Agriculture and IFC.

MLA Khasim Ruivah drew the attention of the House to the problem of drought which is also affecting cultivation in hill districts and urged for providing necessary assistance.

Taking part in the discussion, Minor Irrigation and Agriculture Minister N Loken informed the House that the Government of India is yet to approve the drought affected status even though the State Government has earlier declared it drought affected.

Out of 150 RLI schemes in the State, 110 are still functional and repairing of the remaining to make them functional by August is on, the Minister informed, while explaining that 10 litres of fuel is being provided to each scheme under a special package as there is no fund in the Minor Irrigation Department for this purpose.

The Minister further said that out of 300 water pumps sets procured by the Agriculture Department, 280 have already been distributed.

Apart from allotment of water pump sets through the MLAs, some of the pumps have also been provided to the farmers directly in considering of due merit.

Admitting to the charges of Opposition that the officers of the Agriculture are working only on paper, the Minister assured that the officers of the Agriculture would also be deputed on field duty like their counterparts in the Minor Irrigation.