Imphal, April 26: Reacting to the report published in the Sangai Express edition of April 23, Chief Engineer of Irrigation and Flood Control Department AH Khan has clarified that owing to urgent necessity for repairing damaged banks of Imphal river machineries being used in Lilong areas were needed and subsequently requisitioned.

One JCB and two tipper trucks were provided since April 14 at Imphal River L/B/B at two important places downstream of Lilong Bridge in Rahaman site of Chegaipokpi and Chandakhong, the Chief Engineer said in a statement issued today.

Further highlighting that on completion of the repairing works carried out along certain section of the Imphal River banks damaged by flooding in September and October last, the statement maintained that when the work site was approached along with security personnel to relocate the machineries at other more important places, Lilong AC MLA opposed the move on the plea of continuing works at different but less damaged banks.

While describing as false and baseless the report that effort to recover the machineries was on the instruction of the IFC Minister, AH Khan reasoned that with the rainy season approaching fast and coupled with the limited fund for such works river bank repairing works in other damaged portion had to be attended without any delay.

The department tried to recover the machineries with the help of state security escort but failed on being prevented by a large section of locals as a result of which the Department had been incapacitated to execute similar tasks at other sites even though there is strong apprehension onset of monsoon season would agravate condition of the river banks, the statement added.

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