Manipur Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren on Monday announced that an expert committee will be set up to identify landslide prone areas in the state.
The chief minister made the announcement while responding to queries raised by mediapersons on the sidelines of handing over of ex-gratia to family members of the victims of landslide that occurred along National Highway-102 Tipaimukh Road in Churachandpur on July 8.
The accident occurred between Santing L and Saihum village along the Tipaimukh Road, about 90 km from Churachandpur district headquarters.
Two women were killed and 10 others were injured when the Bolero Camper bearing registration number MZ 01 W1063 in which they were traveling was swept down into a gorge by the landslide.
The chief minister on Monday handed over an ex-gratia amount of Rs five lakh each to family members of the deceased and an amount of Rs 50,000 and Rs 10,000 each to family members of those with major and minor injuries respectively.
ALSO READ: Manipur-Tipaimukh Landslide: Chief Minister Biren to hand over ex-gratia to victim families
Biren also instructed Pherzawl DC to find out whether those injured in the landslide are undergoing treatment, and if they are beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat or CMHT. He further issued instructions to take necessary steps for enrolling them if they are not already enrolled so that their medical expenses can be covered under the schemes.
Biren observed that the whole Northeast has been experiencing an unprecedented number of landslides recently owing to climate change and heavy rainfall.
He said that a high-level committee comprising officials of the Geological Survey of India and the Manipur Remote Sensing Applications Centre will be constituted to identify landslide prone areas and review the situation in the state.
ALSO READ: Manipur-Makhuam landslide toll climbs to 50 as rescue team recovers one more body
Meanwhile, when asked about the reported fertiliser crisis facing the state, he said that the MLAs concerned were earlier asked to submit a list of farmers in his/ her constituency after there were complaints of delay in distribution by the respective district agriculture office.
“However, since the same complaints were reported from various quarters, the distribution has been made through the district agriculture office once again. The crisis is mainly fueled by farmers panicking whether they will not receive sufficient fertilisers. There is enough stock of fertilisers and we will ensure that all will get their share,” he said.
The verification process to ensure that genuine farmers get their fertilisers might have caused the delay; the government is closely monitoring the crisis, he added.
ALSO READ: CM Biren assures people of Manipur 'massive change' in road infrastructure after rainy season
Family members of the victims, civil voluntary organisations and student bodies of Churachandpur district expressed gratitude to the chief minister for acting swiftly in extending the ex-gratia amount.
Minister Awangbow Newmai; additional chief secretaries, MH Khan and Vumlunmang Vualnam; Pherzawl DC among others were present during the occasion.
