Letpao distributes relief items at border villages
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR
Imphal, May 29 2020:
Water Resources and YAS Minister Letpao Haokip conducted a 2-day tour on Wednesday and Thursday in the interior areas of Chandel district and personally took stock of the measures taken up there to tackle COVID-19.Distribution of essential items to villagers, meeting village chiefs, inspection of PMGSY roads/projects and the recently re-opened Molcham Police Station were the main activities of the tour.
Letpao has been distributing rice and other essential items since the start of the COVID-19 lockdown to the villagers of Chandel AC .
Molcham PS had been lying defunct since the last 30 years.
The State Government, after much pressure from the YAS Minister, the district administration and the village chief, re-opened Molcham PS in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown so as to effectively seal the international border.
Speaking to media persons, Letpao Haokip said that re-opening of Molcham PS would go a long way in sealing Indo-Myanmar border effectively in addition to improving the law and order situation.
He assured that he would look into the shortages faced by the particular police station because of its remote location.
On being enquired about the measures taken up by the Government to seal the international border to control COVID-19 pandemic, Letpao said that, under his initiation, the SDO and village chiefs of the border villages have been co-ordinating and sealing the border gates quite effectively while basic commodities are provided regularly so that the villagers do not depend on Myanmar at least during this pandemic.
The Minister said that he would bear the cost of rice which would be distributed at the rate of 5 Kgs per head to each beneficiary of the district.
Generally, rice is distributed to NFSA beneficiaries at Rs 3 per Kg.
Letpao Haokip is also arranging rice for those who do not possess NFSA cards including small children.
Apart from this, he is arranging dal, oil and soaps too.
During the tour, the Minister also inspected the PMGSY roads that are being constructed in these remote areas along the international border.
Officials of PMGSY headed by EE Devendra and contractors were present.
He appreciated road construction works being done at New Somtal to Molcham and New Songjang to T Nampao and lauded the efforts of the engineers and the contractors.
However, the Minister expressed displeasure over the T Nampao to Molcham road stretch and instructed those concerned to speed up the road construction works.
He remarked that road connectivity in the interior areas of Chandel has improved significantly as compared to the past and appealed the officials and contractors to know the importance of roads in such remote areas and to carry out their works dutifully.
On Wednesday, the Minister started distribution of relief items at Khangbarol village where he along with the SDO Khengjoi and the village chiefs distributed rice and other essential items such as dal, mustard oil and soap to the villagers.
The Minister's team halted the night at T Nampao village which is situated close to the Indo-Myammar border and is one of the last villages of India along the border.
On Thursday morning, Letpao distributed essential commodities including rice at T Nampao village.
Thereafter, he went to Molcham and New Somtal villages, where he continued the similar distribution programmes.
Addressing the villagers at the distribution sites, Letpao appealed the villagers to act responsibly and to be extra-careful as the risk of the COVID-19 pandemic is higher in border areas.
He advised them to follow social distancing rules and other guidelines.
The Minister also assured them that he would continuously provide essential items as long as the pandemic lasts, either from the Government arrangements or from his personal capacity, and told that they need not depend on Myanmar.
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