Cong says Rs 6.90 Cr too little, writes to PM for Rs 200 Cr aid
Declare National disaster call rung out
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 10 2024: Categorically stating that the amount of Rs 6.90 crore sanctioned by the State Government for providing relief to 15,425 families whose houses were ravaged by hailstorm and thunderstorm on May 5 is too small, the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has urged the State Government to persuade the Central Government to declare the State's natural disaster as a National disaster.

The Congress party has also written to the Prime Minister to sanction a relief package of at least Rs 200 crore in a time bound manner.

A team of MPCC led by its president K Meghachandra today made a direct assessment of the houses ravaged by the hailstorm/thunderstorm at Langthabal Lep Mayai Leikai within Naoriya Pakhanglakpa AC.

The MPCC team also included MPCC secretary Dr Soraisam Manaoton and MPCC general secretary Amir Hussain.

Speaking to media persons after making a direct assessment of the havoc wreaked by the hailstorm/thunderstorm, Meghachandra said that the amount of Rs 6.90 crore sanctioned by the State Government for providing relief materials to the affected families is too small.

The amount when divided among the more than 15,000 families will come to nought.

It will be of no help to the affected families, Meghachandra said.

He urged the State Cabinet to adopt a decision and raise the amount sanctioned for providing relief to the victims of the hailstorm and the thunderstorm.

The State Government should ensure that all the victims of the hailstorm/ thunderstorm get the full volume of assistance specified by the guidelines of the Natural Disaster Management Authority.

It is a matter of grave concern that the Government is still unable to provide any substantial aid to the victims of the May 5 hailstorm/thunderstorm, he decried.

In addition to dwelling houses, a large number of vegetable farms and poultry farms have also been destroyed by the hailstorm/thunderstorm.

As such, a relief fund of not less than Rs 200 crore is necessary, the MPCC president asserted.

With almost all the people reeling under the crippling impacts of the year long violent conflict, those affected by the hailstorm/ thunderstorm are now facing severe hardships, and many of them are not in a position to buy tin sheets or reconstruct/repair their ravaged houses, he pointed out.

Chief Minister N Biren ought to put strong pressure on the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister to the effect that the Central Government provides a special package for the hailstorm/thunderstorm victims of Manipur, he said.

He then questioned the State Government's reluctance to seek assistance from the Centre.

The MPCC president said that they have already written to the Prime Minister seeking a relief package of Rs 200 crore.

If the State Government's relation with the Centre is not so good and it (State Government) is not in a position to seek aid from the Centre, the State Government must work at its best level and on a war-footing to provide adequate compensation to all the victims, he asserted.

Pointing out that the destruction caused by the hailstorm/thunderstorm was huge and extensive, Meghachandra questioned the State Government's unwillingness to declare the same event as a National disaster.

When such natural disasters occurred in Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal etc, the State Governments took substantial amounts from the Centre and helped the victims, he said.

Pointing out that there is a double-engine BJP Government at both the Centre and the State, the MPCC president urged the State Government to declare the May 5 hailstorm/thunderstorm as a National disaster, take financial aid from the Centre and extend all possible help to all the victims.

The amount of Rs 6.90 crore sanctioned by the State Government would be like putting a bag of salt in the Loktak Lake when it is divided among the victims.

It will be of no help, Meghachandra said.

It has been reported that the State Government has released Rs 50 lakh for 5600 hailstorm/thunderstorm victims of Imphal East.

It means each family whose house had been ravaged would get just around Rs 1000 as aid from the Government, he remarked.

He went on to question if the State Government was planning to buy a single sheet of roofing material for each affected family.

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