Flood woes still continue amid negligence claim
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 13 2010: Even as cessation of rainfall in the last two days have led to drying up of various places in and around the twin capital districts, there is no respite for some low lying residential pockets.

At Thongju area, at least 1000 paris of paddy fields have been inundated and if things do not improve in the next 48 hours, then all the crops stand to be destroyed.

Thongju is perhaps the worst affected area in the ravages caused by the flood.

While information has been received that some areas of Thoubal and Bishnupur districts are still inundated the situation is equally grim at many residential pockets of Imphal East district.

It is informed that many people in low lying areas of Kshetrigao Assembly Constituency are facing floodrelated inconveniences as the flood water that inundated Hatta Golapati area due to a breach on the eastern bank of Imphal River have steadily flowed into Porompat Thawanthaba Leikai and Muslim Leikai where about 500 families have been affected.

Paddy fields submerged by the flood water

Some other pockets of Porompat area, which fall under Khurai AC are also inundated as water from Wangkhei and Khurai areas have drained into the low lying pockets.

To provide basic assistance to the flood-affected citizens, a relief camp has been set up at the entry point of Porompat Thawanthaba Leikai under the joint aegis of Unemployed Youth Learners' Association (UYLA) and Star Sporting Club.

Speaking to some media-persons today, UYLA president Wahengbam Basanta expressed strong resentment that inspite of the inundated areas located close to the Imphal East district headquarters no concrete measures have been taken up from the side of the State Government to mitigate suffering of the displaced residents.

Pointing out that the only route to drain out the flood water is through a canal known as Penikhong, Basanta expressed concern that suffering of the people would remain for some more days as the canal is too narrow compared to volume of the flood water.

Further informing that office complex of the district administration had also been inundated, he wondered why the officials concerned are not taking the initiative to address the situation or provide relief materials to the affected people.

On the brighter side, individuals and social activists have come out to extend relief materials to the displaced persons thereby ameliorating some of the suffering of the people who are still awaiting Government assistance.

Meanwhile, relief materials were distributed to flood-ravaged residents of Wangkhei and Khurai ACs today.

Khurai AC MLA Dr Ng Bijoy today supervised distribution of rice (free of cost) to flood affected families of Kongpal Kongkham area.

Speaking to newspersons at the club premise of Amateur Athletic Association this afternoon, dr Bijoy said 20 quintal rice has been distributed in the first phase today.

Apart from relief material distribution at other flood affected pockets of Khurai AC in the next few days, medical camps would also be organised to prevent outbreak of diseases, the MLA assured.

In Keirao Assembly Constituency, which is one of the worst flood affected areas, people of Arapti Awang Leikai, Mamang Leikai, Urup Arapti, Keirao Makting, Urup Khunou and its neighbouring villages, continued to live on the streets without receiving any assistance from the Government.

A media team which have surveyed the flooded affected areas of the Constituency today witnessed many homeless villagers still living on the streets in a makeshift tent to protect themselves from the vagaries of weather.

A massive breached along the embankment of Imphal river near Arapti Awang Leikai Soibam area in the evening of October 9 have inundated vast track of land including dwelling houses and agricultural field.

Interacting with the media team, the flood affected villagers lamented that even their local MLA has not visited them to inquire about their well-being.

Yet he (MLA) has been playing politics in the distribution of relief materials, they alleged.

On the other hand, there has been no medical care for these flood affected people even though some of their children seen suffering from cough and other ailments.

Absence of adequate and safe drinking water has been another problem that these God-forsaken villagers have been encountering very day.

Asserting that breach on the embankment would not have occurred if the Government and its related Department have taken up necessary repairing work in time, the aggrieved flood affected villagers have also questioned where is the site of the embankment where the local MLA claimed to have repaired/strengthened at an estimated cost of Rs 13 lakh.

In the recent flood, around 650 Paris of Paddy field, 20 fish farms and over 2000 dwelling houses have been reportedly damaged in the Constituency apart from flattening 10 houses beyond redemption.