Loken begins distribution of water pump sets to farmers
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 30 2009: The state Agriculture Minister, L Loken has begun distributing water pumps to farmers of the state against the backdrop of absence of monsoon rains this year.

Three hundred water pumps have been acquired from an amount of around Rs 4 crore that has been drawn by the state government to help fought the drought-like situation.

So far, 110 such pumps have been distributed to farmers.

"The state government will not be able to please all farmers of the state, and the government will not be able to provide the pumps to all farmers of the state," Agriculture Minister Loken said during a formal distribution function of the water pumps today at the Directorate of the Agriculture department located at Sanjenthong here.

Agriculture Minister N Loken distributes water pump sets to selected farmers to face drought like situation in state

Loken further said that the Centre is not approving of the declaration of 'drought' in the state.

A Centre's team to assess the drought situation will be here, he said though he was not sure of the date for the visit.

The state government is declaring the state officially as 'drought-hit' following a Cabinet decision in an attempt to solve the problems of the farmers in the face of absence of monsoon rains, the Minister said.

He added that the amount of around Rs 4 crore drawn for use to tackle the menace would be borne through the state government's exchequer even if the Centre did not reimburse the amount.

Further, the Minister said that around 200 earthen dams will be constructed at suitable places for those farmers where the water pumps could not reach.

Loken also said that the government is also providing assistance for breeding paddy seedlings to 1000 hectares of cultivable land.

"The water pumps have also been distributed to some hill districts," Loken said on being asked what measures the government is taking to redress the menace in hill areas.

He said the government will also hold deliberate discussion on how to tackle the dearth of monsoon rains in the hills.

The Deputy Director (Planning) of Agriculture department, G Shamu Kabui said that the state has been declared 'drought-hit' taking into account the natural amount of rain water in the state.

One can not assume that entire India is drought-hit due to the fact that drought is being declared in Manipur.

He said that the Centre is not approving of the declaration of drought in the state because they are expecting late monsoon rains as is in the case of other states.

The Centre will know the situation first hand when they visit the state.

Kabui further said that the department officials will start indentifying the places where the water pumps will be provided or the earthen dams be constructed.

All the works to be implemented by the department will be personally supervised by the Minister.