Newly built houses handed over
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 23 2025: Khurai AC MLA L Susindro has asserted that compensation for the flood-affected families in the Constituency should be borne by the Forest Department, not the State Disaster Management Authority.

He made the remark while handing over newly-built houses to families whose homes were washed away by the recent flood at Khurai Heikrumakhong.

He cited the Forest Department's inability to save forests in the hill regions and their reported refusal to provide earth materials to strengthen river embankments as reasons for his statement.

Expressing his discontent, he assured to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on behalf of the public over the Forest Department's failure to stop deforestation in the hills.

Large scale cutting down of trees in the hills for poppy cultivation has caused mud, silt and sand from the barren hills to flow down during rainy season and deposit in the river beds making them shallower.

In turn, this has led to repeated flooding in the valley areas, said the MLA.

To safeguard against future floods, the Forest Department should provide one acre of earth materials to reinforce the river banks, said the Khurai AC MLA.

In this connection, he met Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and informed him that the State might face a similar flood without the aforementioned safeguard put in place.

However, he has not received any response from the Governor yet.

Out of six total houses built, two were handed over to the families today.

The remaining four will also be handed over to the respective families shortly.

Additionally, two new houses will be built soon.

The delay in construction was caused by some land related issues, said L Susindro.

He also assured to distribute household items to the flood-affected families in the constituency whose belongings were lost in the natural disaster.

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