IMPHAL, Aug 3 - Congress MPs from the Lok Sabha here have sought a special economic package of at least Rs 1,000 crore from the Prime Minister in order to tide over the flood situation.
The Lok Sabha Members of Parliament from Manipur, namely Thangso Baite and Dr Thokchom Meinya submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Parliament today. In addition, special relief and rehabilitation to the victims of Joumol village may be provided immediately, they mentioned.
The MPs detailed the recent deluge in terms of its severity and devastating damage. There have been heavy floods in the valley districts and Thoubal in particular, breaking river banks and submerging many villages, damaging all standing crops and snapping road and surface communication networks even as a number of concrete bridges were broken, washed away or damaged.
In the hill districts, the situation is even worse, particularly in Chandel and Churachandpur. A bridge at Pallel and Lokchao which connects Manipur and Myanmar was irreparably damaged. A number of small concrete bridges connecting the district headquarters with sub-division/block offices were completely washed away.
Moreover, a tribal village, namely Joumol in Chandel district was completely swept away by landslide on August 1, reportedly taking a toll of more than 20 people, sources said.
Under the circumstances, the MPs drew the personal attention of the Prime Minister to immediately look into the grim flood situation of Manipur and for taking urgent appropriate remedial measures in order to restore the communication infrastructure, which has since broken down, besides taking steps for the farmers who have lost their standing crops.
Rescue operations at landslide-hit Joumol village, about 180 kms south of Imphal in Chandel district, where 20 villagers are believed to be buried alive during the Saturday landslide, was called off this afternoon.
