Central team begins draught assessment tours

Imphal, Aug 22 : An official team of the Union agriculture ministry led by joint secretary Dilip Rath has begun their field visits to various districts of the state including  Senapati, Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Imphal West and Imphal East today to assess the extent of the ravage of the reported draught situation in the state.

The team is in the state in response to a report submitted by the state government on the rain shortfall and the likely consequences on food production in the state this year.

The central team was accompanied by officials of the state agriculture department, CADA, MI and IFCD.

The Central team was however reluctant to comment or answer questions raised by the local media on what they thought of the situation.

The team divided up into two groups to make their survey.

While one of the groups toured areas of Isrou, Kangla, Nongada, Telou and Leimakhong Mapal in Imphal East district and some portions of Ukhrul district, the other visited areas of Malom, Bamdier, Ngakrabam Loukon, New Keithel Manbi in Imphal West, Haolongjang, Makham Phangjang in Tamenglong district, Keithel Manbi and Taphou in Senapati district.

Famers who were in their paddy fields at Leimakhong Mapal in Imphal East district made their complaints over the possible crop failure because of scarcities of rainfall in the areas, and they drew the attention of the team to extend possible help.

The central team will continue their field visit to the different parts of remaining Thoubal, Bishnupur and Churachandpur district tomorrow.

Earlier the Central team soon after their arrived in Imphal yesterday afternoon convened a meeting with the officials of state agriculture, horticulture, CADA and IFCD, and deputy commissioners of the districts of the state at the conference hall of Old Secretariat Imphal.

The meeting discussed the official reports from the state on the failures of crops caused by the draught situations in the state.

It may also be mentioned that state government has announced draught in the state in the middle of July.

A state government report had appraised the Central government that an area in exess of 1,02,000 hectres of paddy fields out of total areas of 2,38,025.86 hectres of paddy fileds in the state would be affected by the present draught situation.

This includes 13463 hectres in Imphal East district, 8013 hectres in Imphal West, 11941 hectres in Bishnupur district, 10402 hectres in Thoubal districts, 9704 hectres in Chandel district, 13625 hectres in Churachandpur district, 9933 hectres in Ukhrul district, 11832 hectres in Tamenglong district and 13087 hectres in Senapati districts.