Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday flagged off vehicles carrying relief goods for flood-affected people in Assam and 40 personnel of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) for rescue operations.
The vehicles carrying Relief Assistance for Assam, sponsored by the Department of Relief and Disaster Management, was flagged off from the western gate of Kangla Fort in Imphal. The items included 135 quintals of Rice, 102 bags of Dal, 120 bags of Salt and 120 boxes of Mustard oil, the chief minister said.
"Flagged off the Relief Assistance for the flood-affected people of Assam at Kangla Gate today. The relief materials consists of 135 quintals of Rice, 102 bags of Dal, 120 bags of Salt, 120 boxes of Mustard oil etc. 40 personnel of SDRF have also been deputed for rescue operations," Biren tweeted on Monday.
The SDRF personnel and the relief goods will arrive at Lakhipur in Assam.
"It is an official aid extended by the Manipur government to the Assam government as a humanitarian service by being a friendly and concerned neighbouring state," said Biren.
The chief minister expressed his deepest condolences on the 126 precious lives claimed by the flood in Assam and shared his sorrow on the sufferings of the 22 lakhs flood-affected people, especially the two lakhs individuals who had been displaced.
Although the flood situation improved on Sunday, the death toll climbed to 126, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).
According to the ASDMA, the flood-affected districts are Bajali, Baksa, Barpeta, Biswanath, Cachar, Chirang, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dhubri, Dibrugarh, Dima-Hasao, Goalpara, Golaghat, Hailakandi, Hojai, Kamrup, Kamrup (M), Karbi Anglong West, Karimganj, Lakhimpur, Majuli, Morigaon, Nagaon, Nalbari, Sonitpur, South Salmara, Tamulpur, Udalguri.
Concerning the sufferings of the Manipuri settled in Silchar, Hojai, Lumding and other places of Assam, Biren said the state government will be sending an unofficial team consisting of volunteers from Meetei Leepun and CM’s Martial Arts group to provide support and relief items.
Stating that any sorts of natural calamity cannot be prevented, however it is the duty of the government to control the situation, he said. To control floods in Manipur the state government has started evicting illegal structures which prevent smooth flow of the drainage systems, he added.
Replying to a query on the issue of ILP base year, the chief minister said that the government cannot go on the wish of a single community in a diverse state like Manipur.
“We have to look equally for each and every community. I believe that the JCILPS will agree with the decision of the government,” he added.
The flagging off programme was also attended by Relief and Disaster Management Minister Awangbow Newmai; MLA L Rameshwor and other top ranking officials of the state government, including chief secretary Rajesh Kumar.
