Govt reviews flood scars, SFs join hands in relief work
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 10 2010: Along with reviewing the situation of flood in the State, a meeting presided over by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has discussed provision of immediate relief materials to the flood affected victims.

On the other hand, Minister of Irrigation and Flood Control N Biren asserted that his Department has taken up necessary measures to ameliorate difficulties being faced by the people from breaching of the river embankments as well as overflowing water into the low lying areas.

With rise in the water level of all the major rivers flowing through the valley area like Imphal river, Nambul river, Kongba river, Iril river, Thoubal river and breaching of embankments in some parts, many houses in low lying areas have been flooded, rendering thousands of people homeless.

Relief material distribution and river bank repairing works being carried out at various locations of the valley district

To review the flood situation, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh today presided over a meeting.

Attended by MLAs, Additional Chief Secretary, Relief Commissioner, Deputy Commissioners of the four valley districts and officials of Consumers Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, the meeting discussed extension of immediate relief materials to the flood affected people.

Accordingly, it has been decided that 5500 quintal of rice would be released for distribution to flood affected people of the four districts and another Rs 10 lakhs would be sanctioned through the Relief Department.

Furthermore, the meeting decided that one Kerosene tanker for each of the four valley districts would be provided for distribution among the people with immediate effect.

According to the preliminary reports furnished by the respective Deputy Commissioners of the four valley districts, 55,000 households have been affected by the flood.

This include 18,000 in Imphal East, 17,000 in Imphal West and 10,000 each in Bishnupur and Thoubal district.

Meanwhile, a Ministerial team led by Minister of Irrigation and Flood Control N Biren inspected flood affected areas.

The Ministerial team which also included MLA of Khurai A/C Dr Ng Bijoy, MLA of Khundrakpam A/C and Deputy Speaker Th Lokeshore, Chairman of State Planning Board Bijoy Koijam inspected Lamphel Loukon which has been inundated from breach of embankment of Kongba river, the condition of the embankment of Iril river and Irong Asem area where Kongba river overflowed flooding vast tract of paddy fields.

Talking to The Sangai Express after the inspection, Minister Biren said that his Department has taken up necessary steps to combat flood.

He pointed out that rainfall recorded this time was 85 mm as against 63 mm in 2007 .

So, the impact of the flood was more severe.

He said that as it would take time for the Department alone to reconstruct/repair the breached embankments, works have been started along with giving contracts to able individuals in consultation with respective local MLAs.

Information received from the Flood Control Room said that the water level of Imphal, Nambul, Iril and Kongba river has started receding and overflowing of water from Imphal river at Hatta Golapati has been checked.

However, the Department has been trying hard to control breaching of embankment of Nambol river over a distance of 150 feet at Irong Chesaba, embankment of Thoubal river over a distance of 40 feet near Okram, Ningombam and Keibung Sanasubi.

On the other hand, MLA of Moirang A/C M Prithiviraj has inspected the flood affected areas of his constituency.

The MLA was accompanied by the Deputy Commissioner, SDO and AE of PHED among other officers during the inspection.

Flood affected people have been evacuated to relief camp.

Troops of 28 Assam Rifles and 39 Assam Rifles of 9 Sector under HQ IGAR (South) set up relief camps for the flood affected people of Hatta Golapati and New Checkon and provided shelter, food, water and medical facilities round the clock.

A team of engineers from Red Shield Division in two boats was also deployed at the camp sites for the task of plugging up the breach along embankment of Imphal river which led to the flooding of the area.

The civil administration provided with sand bags and a dumper for plugging of the gap.

Similarly, 15 Assam Rifles had provided food, water and medicines to the flood affected populace of Khekman and Moijing area.

Sustaining its effort in providing relief to the flood-affected people, Chinga and Canchipur post of 28 Assam Rifles established relief camps at Hatta, New Checckon Road and Bashikhong areas.

Apart from medical facilities extended at these relief camps, over 600 people were served food and drinking water, a release informed while adding that two life saving boats were also provided by 9 Engineers Regiment of 57 Mountain Division to evacuate stranded people from low lying areas of Bashikhong.