Considering the urgency to evolve a long term solution to the problems of frequent floods in Manipur, the Union Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has agreed to include Manipur River basin in terms of reference in the study of the Brahmaputra Basin.
Union Ministry’s approval for the inclusion of Manipur River basin in the study of the Brahmaputra basin in the North-east, came to light during 9th meeting of High Powered Review Board of Brahmaputra Board in Assam’s Borgos at Kaziranga on Saturday, sources reaching here said.
Manipur Water Resources Minister Letpao Haokip along with Additional Chief Engineer Ksh Pritam Singh of Water Resources Department, Manipur and Executive Engineer AK Sharat Singh attended the High Powered Review meeting.
Union Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari chaired the meeting wherein Manipur Minister Letpao Haokip apprised the Union Minister that the State of Manipur is facing recurrent flash floods every year.
There were five flash floods within a span of 45 days in the State during 2017 causing wide spread damages, says Letpao who also proposed that WAPCOS, a private sector unit technology driver consultancy under the Ministry may also be assigned for the conduct of the necessary study of the Manipur River Basin and for preparation of the comprehensive Master Plan for effective management and control of recurrent flash floods in the State.
Highlighting that the State has two river basins namely Barak River Basin and Manipur River Basin, he added the Barak River basin doesn’t flow in the valley areas of the state and the said basin has almost no relevance in causing flood in the state particularly in the valley region.
He also highlighted that flash floods occurs two or three times during raining seasons every year causing losses of standing properties crops, animal lives causing severe impact on the economy of the State.
He also suggested that as the State has limited resources, that the entire cost involved in the study of the said river basin may kindly be borne by the Government of India.