Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 10 2010:
Timely detection and prompt pre-emptive measures taken up by the people of Keirao assembly constituency along with physical presence and material contribution by social activist N Itomba prevented devastation of vast tract of homestead and agricultural land in Keirao Bitra area.
Even as several parts of Imphal were inundated due to incessant rainfall some days back people of Keirao Bitra stared at possible devastation as level of the iril river water raised alarmingly.
As there was no assistance from either the department concerned or the local representative even though people residing close to the river bank were about to move to safer locations, N Itomba took the initiative to press into service heavy machines such as JCB and tippers to strengthen the river bund, informed Keirao Bitra Loumi Lup general secretary Mutum Romesh.
It is said that large number of locals along volunteers of Lup, ILU, YDCC and LMYC joined in the repairing and strengthening of the Iril riverbank in atleast six vulnerable points from around 10 am of October 9 .
On his part, Itomba pledged to contribute his mite in redressing grievances of the Keirao AC people while expressing regret that he could not extend any sort of assistance to Arapti Awang Leikai, where a section of the iril river bank breached and inundated residential and agricultural land.
Meanwhile, the local bodies of Keirao Bitra conveyed gratitude to special contractor Kangujam Santabiren Singh for providing the heavy machines in combating the flood menace.