IMPHAL | July 15
Chief minister N. Biren Singh made an aerial survey of flood affected areas of the State today. He was accompanied by works minister Th. Biswajit, chief secretary R.R. Rashmi and additional chief secretary (home) Dr. J. Suresh Babu.
The team took off from Kangla helipad at around 9:30 am and surveyed the flood affected areas for over one hour.
The central government team, who has come to the state to take stock of the present situation arising out of the recent spates of heavy rainfall and subsequent flood, also undertook an aerial survey along with the top officials of the state government.
While speaking on the sidelines of ‘Meeyamgi Numit’ Biren said heavy rainfall and flood have severely affected the state and many areas are still submerged under flood water. He said that the central team is presently in the state to gather a first-hand account of the losses created by the calamity.
Biren said the state government had not only announced the present situation as a ‘state calamity’ but also requested the central government to declare it as a ‘calamity of severe nature’.
Expressing hope that the central government would provide all possible help to tackle the situation and rehabilitate the affected people Biren said the government would build houses for those whose houses had been damaged by the flood.
Andro flood
Forest minister Th. Shyamkumar inspected paddy fields submerged under flood water at Andro, Imphal East.
Shyamkumar said around 78 percent paddy fields in the constituency are presently submerged under flood water and all crops have been completely damaged.
He pointed out that all the river beds in the state have risen upto 20 feet due to silting resulting in the water overflowing causing the flood in the valley.
He opined that the silts are deposited due to debris brought down from the hills and other areas due to continuous exploitation of nature.
He further said that the state government under chief minister N Biren Singh is committed to take up steps to avoid such kind of flood situation in coming years.
Read more / Original news source: http://www.ifp.co.in/item/1917-central-team-conducts-aerial-survey-of-flood