Manipur Lok Sabha MP urges Centre to declare NE issues as National Calamity

Our Correspondent
Imphal, July 26 (EMN): Lok Sabha MP Dr Thokchom Meinya Singh has urged the Union Government and Ministry of Home Affairs during the ongoing parliament session to immediately declare flash floods in North-East India as a “National Calamity” for sanctioning adequate relief funds.
In an intervention in Lok Sabha on Tuesday, MP Dr Meinya said, Northeastern States of India are in crisis as flash floods and landslides leave thousands displaced. The death toll has grown more than three digits. Heavy monsoon rains and flash floods wreak havoc in Manipur, Nagaland, Assam, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.
“Whenever there are flash floods in the North-East region, the two life-lines of Manipur known as NH 2 and NH 37 are completely cut off causing immediate closure of movement of goods and passengers,” he added. “Encroachment of natural water bodies in the valley areas in the name of development and sallow river beds appears to be some of the reasons of these flash floods,” he said. Further he said it was a high time to have a dedicated flash flood management policy for the entire North East and Manipur in particular.
On July 21 too, MP Dr Meinya had drawn the attention of the centre over the flash flood and landslide in North East during the zero hour of the parliament. Manipur had been suffering from floods and landslides besides the spread of epidemic such as Japanese Encephalitis (JE), Dengue and malaria due to incessant rainfall and subsequent arrival of Cyclone Mora in the state in May end this year.