MANIPUR: MINISTER KAYISII VISITS LANDSLIDE AFFECTED THONGLANG IN KANGPOKPI DISTRICT

13 July 2018:

Tribal Affairs & Hills and Fisheries Minister Shri N. Kayisii today visited Thonglang in Kangpokpi district which falls under his constituency Tadubi, to take stock of the situation post the devastating landslide that occurred in the village last week.

Upon his arrival at the village, the Minister conducted a spot inspection of the damage caused by the landslide. Interacting with the villagers, Kayisii encouraged the villagers to plant more trees to maintain the ecological balance in the area. While extending some immediate relief materials, the Minister assured to provide CGI sheets to the affected households.

Expressing concern over the poor connectivity in the village especially the road condition, mobile and power connectivity, he assured that the issues will be addressed to bring development in the area. He further expressed that he will put more effort to bring closer ties with the locals in the coming days.

It may be noted that the devastating landslide damaged six dwelling houses including a church building and the office building of Thonglang Youth Club. Although there was infrastructural damage caused by the landslide, there was no report of human casualty. The landslide also damaged a stretch of a state highway at Thonglang village- IT Road preventing any vehicular movement at the road stretch. Multiple crack lines are clearly visible at a spot on the road.

According to villagers, IT Road is the lifeline to more than 200 villages belonging to Kuki, Naga and Nepali communities in the surrounding area. With the lifeline being cut off, goods and necessities are transported through Thonglang - Senapati Road by taking a bypass through a steep inter-village road. Incidentally, a culvert and a road stretch along Thonglang-Senapati road were also damaged by the landslide. Villagers opined that constructing a side drain along with a retaining wall may avert landslide to recur.

The Minister was accompanied by Chairman and Ex-Chairman of Thonglang Village Council, local Member of District Council, church leaders and villagers during the survey.