The present stock of water in Imphal West will not last for more than 20 days as most of the rivers which run in Imphal valley originating from Kangpokpi district have dried up, cautioned state CAF and PD minister L Susindro.
Blaming rampant deforestation and clearing of hill ranges to make space for poppy plantation for the acute shortage of water, the minister informed that that the government will be setting up pumping stations in different locations of Imphal West within the next two-three days.
Pointing out that the water levels of Loktak Lake and Kangchup have also receded considerably, he said that the only hope left is the Chingkhei Ching Water Supply whose pipe-laying is on pipeline. It would supply sufficient water at least to the pumping stations, he added.
The minister was speaking to mediapersons at Imphal Airport on Friday after conducting an aerial survey of poppy plantations and deforestation in interior jungles of the state.
Expressing shock in witnessing vast poppy plantations at the border areas of Thangjing Range in Churachandpur district, Chakpikarong in Chandel district and in many hill ranges of Saikul in Kangpokpi district during the survey, he said necessary steps will be taken up to foil the poppy plantations.
Using all possible equipment such as drones, chemicals and others, stringent actions will be taken against poppy cultivating villages as they pay no heed to the repeated appeals made by the chief minister.
“The state government will write to the ministry of Food and Civil Supply to invalidate ration cards of all the villages that support and permit poppy cultivation,” the minister announced.
