To address the issue of water scarcity in Imphal region, Chief Minister N Biren on Friday said the water from the Loktak Lake will be lifted up to the Malom area through the Loktak Lift Irrigation (LLI) scheme from March 20.
In this regard, a team headed by Water Resource minister Awangbow Newmai, PHED minister L Susindro and PWD minister Govindas Konthoujam on Friday had inspected the site to oversee that water was being lifted sufficiently from the lake, Biren told mediapersons at his secretariat in Imphal.
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Biren stated that the state government is taking up all possible measures to ensure adequate availability of water to the public.
Further informing that the water from Chingkhei Ching has reached Khuman Lampak, he said the government will provide water free of cost to the tankers, so that adequate water is available in the Imphal region at minimal rate.
Talking on the ongoing demand for NRC implementation in Manipur to tackle the issue of immigrants, Biren said it is a good sign that the indigenous people have started realising the impact of influx.
The state government has decided to launch a massive identification programme of illegal immigrants and take up necessary legal actions against those intruders.
Regarding the state cabinet decision to withdraw SoO agreements with some UG groups, the chief minister said that the matter had been raised to the central government stating that those UG groups had violated the ground rules, besides indulging in many illegal activities.
“We are waiting for a reply from the central government?” he added.
The chief minister also expressed concern on a confiscation of 20.27 kilograms of poppy seeds along with four Myanmar origin unregistered bikes (Kenbo) and two-barrel guns from two individuals at Boljang Village, Kangpokpi district on Friday.
“I am very disappointed to learn that some people are trying to sow poppy seeds despite the intensive war on drugs and mass destruction of poppy plantations taken up by the state government,” said Biren.
Such an act which is probably done in collaboration with Myanmar nationals is considered as an intention to give a devastating effect to the society and a challenge to the war on drugs, the CM said.
Those involved in drug business should know that Manipur is not a place like Myanmar and Thailand which may be a place for drug business, the CM said, adding that Manipur is a state with more than 2000-3000 years old civilised history and a humanity-based nation. Manipur has no place for drug business, he said.
Appealing to all the concerned parties involved in the drugs business to stop it immediately, Biren said, “We are not going to compromise any drug case at any cost and will not succumb to it. In fact, intensive legal action will be initiated against all those involved in the drug case”.
It is also reported that a state police team also carried out destruction of a poppy plantation in an area measuring 10 acres at the adjacent hill of Boljang Village which covers under unclassified forest on Thursday.
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