Construction of a cluster of prefabricated houses for the people displaced by the ongoing ethnic conflict at Thoubal district’s Yaithibi Khunou is almost completed, though its water supply system is being taken up.
Once the water supply system is operational, the temporary shelter complex for the internally displaced persons that would house 400 families would be inaugurated within a fortnight, said officials concerned.
State chief secretary Vineet Joshi on Monday visited the site and assessed the construction activities with the Public Health & Engineer department (PHED) officials. Upon the suggestion of Joshi, a water reservoir would be set up by digging a pond on the premises of the complex.
Among 60,000-plus people affected by the string of violent incidents triggered since May 3 in the state and took refuge at around 351 relief camps in both the valley and hill districts, some of them were recently shifted to the newly-set up prefabricated houses at Imphal East district’s Sajiwa and Sawombung, Sekmai in Imphal West and Bishnupur district’s Kwakta.
The Yaithibi complex houses a total of 40 units, with 10 families to be accommodated in each unit.
As done at other complexes, every house in a unit will comprise two rooms and an attached toilet each to be allotted to a family. Potable water of the units will be supplied through pipes from the overhead plastic water tanks to be installed. Kitchen areas for the families will be provided in separate halls within each unit.
Joshi said that he is happy that the prefab temporary shelter offers better living spaces for the inmates with more privacy and better sanitation.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Thoubal district Subhash Ahanthem, the strife affected victims staying in relief camps in the districts whose houses were totally destroyed in the arson at the border town of Moreh in Tengnoupal district and Sugnu and Serou areas in Kakching district would be given priority to shift at the Yaithibi complex.
The chief secretary also visited the relief camps at Khangabok in the same district and interacted with the 210 inmates and inquired about their grievances. Joshi lauded the inmates for their resilience and productivity that has resulted in producing handicraft and handloom products in association with the Manipur State Rural Livelihood Mission, under the Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Department. The livelihood project has, to an extent, become a reliable source of income during their stay in the camp.
Joshi also interacted with the children and distributed simple gifts to the children of the camp.
As committed by the government, construction of prefabricated houses has been started in the hill districts of Kangpokpi and Churachandpur districts as well.
