Newmai News Network
Imphal | August 31
The Manipur State cabinet has approved to declare "drought situation" in the state on August 31.
According to an official statement, this decision of the cabinet will enable the Manipur government to seek relief assistance from the Government of India.
"It is estimated that due to significant deficit in rainfall this year, drought has adversely affected crops across 70 blocks of the state," the statement said. As per initial estimates, various villages of these blocks have crop failure ranging from 33% to more than 50% based on which they are categorised as moderately and severely affected by drought, the statement added.
Prior to the cabinet meeting on Saturday, Chief Minister, N Biren Singh chaired a high level "emergency meeting" which was attended by ministers, MLAs, the chief secretary, the vice chancellor of Central Agricultural University (CAU), administrative secretaries of Finance, Planning, Revenue, Agriculture department, deputy commissioners, representatives of ICAR, and other senior officials.
The chief minister reviewed the rainfall situation, crop conditions and reservoir status. It was informed that rainfall is more than 50% deficit in the state while reservoirs have more than 60% deficit level, according to the official statement.
Based on these reports, the Cabinet meeting took decision to declare "drought situation" in Manipur, the statement added.
