Manipur Hit by Drought, Declares Manipur Cabinet

Imphal, July 22, 2019:

Hundreds of paddy fields at different places have dried up due to scanty rainfalls during this monsoon season in Manipur.

A team of media persons paid an inspection visit to the paddy fields in the southern parts of the state on Sunday a day after the state cabinet has given its approval on sending a recommendation to the Centre urging it to declare the state as 'drought affected'.

Manipur received 50% less rainfall than normal in the middle month of July, which has raised concerns about the upcoming kharif crop in the state, besides raising concerns about the

Pradhan of Wangoo Terakhong Gram Pachanyet in Kakching district of Manipur T Baleshore along with a team of media persons on Sunday paid an inspection visit to the paddy fields of the areas. 1,400 acres of paddy field in Wangoo village in the southern part of Manipur has been dried due to scanty rainfalls.

700 acres of paddy field at Haotal, 300 acres at Nahakhong, 200 acres of Terakhong Mamang and 200 acres at Phunsang are dried.

Kh Krishnagopal, a farmer of Terakhong village has said that if the government provides water pump sets as soon as possible, there will still behope to plant crops on his field. He further said that on Saturday, the state government authorities have provided water pump sets to the villagers of Toupul.

Concerning the drought like situation, spokesperson of the NDA government in Manipur Th Radheshyam after the cabinet meeting on Saturday night told the newsmen that state government cannot declare drought at any given time and the norms require four parameters, which determines a drought situation.

A state will be considered to have faced drought if rainfall in June-July decreases by 50 percent, paddy crop cultivation declines by 50 percent and some other key points. The cabinet approved to recommend the centre to declare the state drought affected, he added.

The cabinet meeting followed in line with the Chief Minister N Biren Singh on July 1 took a high level meeting with top officials of the Government and ordered quick preparatory measures for any eventuality of drought situation. The meeting discussed action plan for a possible deficit rainfalls situation.

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