IMPHAL, January 7: The Bharatiya Janata Party Manipur unit has condemned the lackadaisical attitude of the state government regarding its relief work post quack which jolted the state on January 4. It alleged that no single agency either from the state or the district administration has come to take stock of the damage at the epicentre area of Kabui Khullen Part -1, under Tamenglong district.
In this regard a press briefing was held on January 6 at its Office in Imphal. Speaking to media persons, M Asnikumar, General Secretary of Manipur Pradesh said that Kabui Khullen is about 30 Km from Noney bazar. He said the quack measuring 6.8 Richter scale has affected 54 houses of which 7 of them have been completely destroyed. Four villagers suffered serious back injury and 20 of them are under traumatic disorder, he said.
Asnikumar continued that a five member team including K Bikram, Trazan, Naoba and leader of BJP Tamenglong Mandal, Forson had reached to the epicentre spot on January 5. He said the team reached the affected site after travelling pathetic road conditions. The team met villagers door to door and also extended financial assistance to affected families, he added.
Villagers have expressed dissatisfaction over the negligence of the government authorities, he said before adding that it should be the top priority of the government to reach the affected area near the epicentre.
Asnikumar further maintained that there is an urgent need for opening a medical camp in the affected area along with relief works. The villagers are facing severe hardships because of the cold weather condition at a high altitude place like Kabui Khullen.
Asnikumar questioned the indifferent nature of the Tamenglong DC, who failed to answer phone calls. He demanded that the state government should take immediate action against the said DC. There is a big question mark against the Deputy Chief Minister, who still has not turned up to take stock of the affected village, which happens to be his Assembly Constituency, he maintained.
In such situation, it is high time to frame a long time policy by the state on disaster management, otherwise it will be too late, he said. Asnikumar also challenged the clarification given by Kh Ratankumar, who holds the charge of minister of Works department, on Ima Keithel structural damage by the quack, as unfounded. He said Ima Keithel was built when Congress led UPA was in power and constructed related works were assigned to the National Building Construction Corporation, NBCC Ltd at their disposal.
During the media briefing, Asnikumar also demanded that an independent enquiry should be instituted to ascertain the lapses that might have involved during the construction of the newly built Ima Keithel.