IMPHAL, June 16 - Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, accompanied by local MLAs, visited the breached sites of the Imphal river embankment in Imphal West district today.
The Chief Minister first visited the Chajing-Karam breach site, followed by a tour to Irong and Maibam in Mayang Imphal area, to take stock of the situation and interact with the flood-affected people.
Later, speaking to reporters, Singh called for the support of the people to chalk out a permanent plan to tackle floods in the State and manage the present situation by providing necessary relief materials, mobile toilets, etc.
�I have written separately to the Union Home Ministry and the Water Resources Ministry to sort out a permanent plan by conducting necessary surveys,� the Chief Minister said.
Singh said the present flood in the State is due to various reasons including heavy rainfall at many parts.
Heavy rainfall was recorded in Chandel (617 mm), Ukhrul (455 mm) and Tamenglong (271.2 mm) districts between June 1 and 15 against the normal rainfall of 250-260 mm. The intensity of the rainfall was also very high (198.6 mm per hour) from 7-8 am of June 12, 2018 at Chandel and Tengnoupal districts, Deputy Director of the Directorate of Environment, Dr T Brajakumar, said.
Senapati, Ukhrul and Tamenglong also received very high rainfall with high intensity, which led to flood as the water holding capacity of reservoirs, wetlands, ponds, tanks, rivers, etc., in the valley has decreased due to high siltation.
Rainfall measuring more than 100 mm a day is considered to be related to the climate change effect. But in Manipur, rainfall above 100 mm per day has been recorded since 1974 (June). In successive years like 1976 (July and August), 1980 (September), 1985 (July), 1989 (July) and 1991 (August), too, the rainfall recorded was more than 100 mm per day.
In 2015, high rainfall intensity was observed, which was followed by floods in Thoubal and Chandel districts. On May 30, 2017, the highest rainfall intensity (306 mm per day) was observed at Shirui, which was followed by heavy landslides at Shilrakhong and three adjoining villages.
