Our Correspondent
Imphal, July 5 (EMN): Union Minister of State (MoS) for water resources, Arjun Ram Meghwal, has assured all possible assistance from the central government in mitigating the flood situation in Manipur and also provide necessary funds to restore normalcy at the earliest.
Arjun Ram was on two-day visit to take stock of the ground reality on frequent floods and the extent of damages. He had inspected the Dolaithabi Barrage Project and the Thoubal multipurpose project.
Speaking to reporters, Arjun Ram that his visit was to look for a long term policy and arrangement to prevent flood in future in the state as the present central government does not believe in mere short term measures.
“If the problem is not addressed with a long-term vision, the problem will become worse and people will suffer repeatedly due to the cumulative effect. The government is committed to bring development to the NE region as the region remains backward in comparison to the rest of the state,” he added.
On the way to Thoubal multipurpose project at Maphou, Arjun Ram also interacted with the dam affected people. The MoS was accompanied by the state minister of water resource Letpao Haokip; commissioner H Deleep; chief engineer of water resources department Pritam; and other top officials of the department.
The minister’s visit was part of the Prime Minister’s instruction to visit NE states regularly to stock of the situation and to relay the ground reality on severity of the damage caused by the flood to the higher officials at the centre.
On Wednesday, he inspected the flood affected areas of the state. State minister of consumer affairs, food and public distribution, Karam Shyam, who is the local MLA of Langthabal where many houses were damaged in the recent flood, was also present when the union minister and his team visited Lilong Chajing Thongkhong, Chajing Mairenkhong, and Chajing Karam areas.
The visiting minister also had a brief interaction with the affected victims of the flood, whose houses were swept away by the flood water, and assured them adequate assistance.
The central minister also called on the state chief minister, N Biren, prior to his departure for the national capital after the visit to Thoubal multipurpose dam.
