SOBHAPATI SAMOM
IMPHAL, July 8 – Manipur Assembly today discussed the drought-like situation which has hit hard the life of thousands of farmers in the State. CPI MLA N Mangi of Kumbi Assembly constituency in Bishnupur district raised the issue as a call attention motion.
However, his motion was converted into a short-duration discussion as farmers sought help as their paddy fields went dry due to scanty rainfall and poor irrigation. Manipur received 475 mm of rainfall till date against last year’s record of 739.50 mm rainfall, a fall of 58 per cent.
Besides Mangi, five other ruling and opposition MLAs participating in the discussion demanded immediate coordination of all government departments including Agriculture, Minor Irrigation, Irrigation and Flood Control, Water Supply, PWD to deal with the drought-like situation.
Moving the motion, Mangi said that Manipuris being rice eaters, the government should take up measures on a “war-footing” to avoid scarcity of food grain or famine-like situation.
O Joy of Manipur People’s Party alleged that almost all the river lift irrigation schemes in the State have failed due to poor maintainance.
MLAs Dr I Ibohalbi, Dr Ng Bijoy, RK Anand, all from MPP demanding more water pump sets, expressed the need to have proper coordination of the all concerned departments to tackle situation.
Agriculture Minister N Loken said his department has so far distributed 260 water pump sets having 25 horse power capacity each out of 300 sets ordered. The agriculture Minister also informed the House that his department is trying to coordinate with other departments to tackle the situation in the State.