Imphal, August 10: The Communist Party of India, Manipur state council; the Manipuri Students� Federation, the All India Students� Federation and the Manipur Loumi Marup have called the immediate attention of the government to the draught-like situation and the languishing crops in the fields in the state and urged the same to take up urgent measures to prevent damage of the crops.

The CPI Manipur State Council, in a letter to the Governor, demanded that the present schemes like the River Lift Irrigation (RLI) and Irrigation Barrage be made functional on war footing and arrangement for supply of pumping sets to the farmers be made to save the present standing crops which are on the verge of being damaged due the draught-like situation.

A release of the MSF, while expressing strong apprehension that the vast fields of paddy crops in the station the verge of perishing, strongly resented the absence of any aid from the government to the farmers.

It also charged that the government�s indifference is a part of the government of India�s plan to ensure that the people of Manipur are not self-reliant but dependent on outside economy.

The release said the government of India makes huge grants for agriculture in the mainland states such as Punjab, Hariyana, Rajasthan and Gujarat while not a single scheme of it came in the favour of farmers in Manipur.

The MSF also warned against selling of fertilizers and insecticides at unreasonable prices as a part of the nexus between the fertilizer-insecticide agents and black marketers.

The AISF Manipur state council strongly resented that the government took up no contingency measures to deal with such situation as now arising from the absence of rain.

Sounding an alarm, the Manipur Loumi Marup said the fields have become dry due to the uncommon arid climate.

The crops have been sapped and began to perish while large farm areas are yet to be planted due to lack of water.

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