Lok Sabha Inner Manipur MP Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam has urged the Governor of Manipur, A.K. Bhalla, to officially declare the current flood situation in Manipur as a “State Calamity.”
In an official letter dashed off today, addressed to the Governor of Manipur, the Inner Manipur MP wrote that the declaration would enable the activation of institutional measures to deal with the present situation as well as the challenges in the days to come. Such an official pronouncement will enable streamlining inter-departmental coordination and mobilizing resources to facilitate urgent financial assistance from the Centre, unlock targeted schemes for relief and rehabilitation, and unlock infrastructure restoration and preventive measures.
The MP also wrote that the flooding has recently gripped multiple districts across the state, Imphal East being among the worst affected areas so far. Unfortunately, such flooding has been a recurrent phenomenon in the state, largely due to, among others, deforestation and policy failures. However, compared to earlier occasions, the onset of the flooding this time is not only quite early, but it has also already caused severe disruptions and damages. This signals a clear warning that the situation is likely to get worse this season.
