NEW DELHI, September 9 (MIC): Manipur Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Francis Ngajokpa today met the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju here and apprised him of the gravity of extensive damage caused to the State in the recent flood especially roads, bridges and standing crops and other properties of both hill and valley of Manipur.
He said that the damage due to landslides, sinking, submersion and erosion was very extensive. As many as 296 PMGSY roads and bridges covering total length of 479.95 km. was washed away during the flood in Manipur and unless it was reconstructed or repaired immediately, villagers in remote areas would remain disconnected, he informed the Union Minister.
Ngajokpa also requested the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs to depute an inter-ministerial team to assess the gravity of damage.
He also brought back Union Minister Kiren Rijiju`™s mind into his recent visit with Union Minister of DoNER Dr Jitendra Singh at the flood affected areas of Manipur, which they knew gravity of the situation.
Kiren Rijiju assured the Manipur Minister that as soon as a proposal from the State Government was received from the State Government, an inter-ministerial team would be sent to Manipur to assess the damage.
Meanwhile, the Union Minister also spoke to the Manipur Chief Minister regarding the importance of the comprehensive assessment by the Inter-ministerial team so that necessary central assistance could be provided to the State Government.
Manipur Minister of Rural Development Francis Ngajokpa also met the Union Minister for Rural Development Chaudhary Birender Singh yesterday and apprised him of the situation. Since there was no fund for repairing of the PMGSY roads, the Union Minister suggested him to approach to the Union Home Ministry for repairing of the roads and bridges under the National Disaster Management Scheme of the Ministry. Ngajokpa requested the Union Minister to enhance the fund for Manipur for development of PMGSY roads.
Union Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh assured him for providing sufficient funds for PMGSY schemes in Manipur. Union Minister reminded him for maintaining the quality as well as timely completion of the works.