IMPHAL, June 24: The central and state government should consider the irrigation problem in the state and revive various irrigation projects taken up earlier to avail adequate supply of water to famers of the state, demanded president of Manipur Loumi Lup N Mangi Singh during a press meet at Irabat Bhawan here today.
He alleged that various schemes and projects taken up by Minor Irrigation Department have failed to function accordingly posing a threat to crops sown by farmers in vast agricultural fields.
Although Irrigation and Flood Control Department is in the belief that farmers are availed with adequate supply of water in most of the parts but the truth is that water is yet to reach many of the agricultural fields. The government should discuss the matter in the Assembly and Cabinet to revive the schemes and projects at the earliest in the interest of the farmers, he said.
Stating that the NDA Government sent Minister to the state to inspect various problems including irrigation but their assurances remain only in words, he demanded investigation by CBI into the failure of the irrigation schemes and projects in the state to function despite its completion.
He reiterated that Manipur Loumi Lup submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister on November 29, 2014 urging to address various issues for development including irrigation of the state.
Taking the memorandum into consideration, the NITI Aayog (State Plans Division) sent a reply back to the organization on May 1, 2015 explaining about the issues mentioned in the memorandum. The matter was referred to NITI Aayog by PMO, he said.
On the issue of providing irrigation facilities in Manipur, demand for renovation and revival of all the completed and defunct irrigation projects and thorough investigation into the implementation affairs of the irrigation projects in Manipur to find out the cause of their failures, the NITI Aayog clarified that this is entirely and issue of implementation of the programme and lies in the domain of the state government.
Irrigation as per the constitution being a state subjects, it`™s planning, funding implementation and completion in time is primarily rest with the state government. The central government is already providing assistance under accelerated irrigation benefits programme to Thoubal and Dolaithabi Projects. The assistance provided till 31.03.2015 for these two projects are Rs 800.34 crore (Since 1997-1998) and Rs 230.77 crore (Since 2002-03) respectively, it said.
Regarding the demand for dredging and deepening of the Loktak Lake intensively and taking up of extensive a forestation works on a war footing in the catchment areas, the NITI Aayog in its reply explained that the peripheral area of the Loktak Lake, is in the process of dredging to clear the siltation including the removal of floating Bio-Mass (Phumdi) in order to increase the depth of the Loktak Lake towards Fisheries enhancement process including the adopting of integrated fish farming along the peripheral region of the lake.
The welfare of affected Fishing Communities who are dependent on Loktak Lake may be taken up with the department of animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries (DAH, D&F/NFDB) for fisheries/aquaculture programme oriented supports in a projectisation mode, subject to its admissibility under the terms and conditions laid down norms and availability of fund under the DAH, D&F and NFDB. In this connection, the scope available under other social sector schemes may also be explored, it further clarified.
Whereas on the issue of reintroduction of the Inner Line Permit System which was in force in Manipur till 1950 with suitable modification, it answered that that since this particular issue is dealt by MHA, the same may be taken up with MHA.