The Manipur’s cabinet on Saturday declared the state as drought-hit in Manipur. This announcement paves the way for the state government to seek relief assistance from the Centre.

A government press release stated that the ‘deficit in rainfall’ or drought has adversely affected crops across 70 blocks of the state. As per initial estimates, various villages of the 70 blocks have crop failure ranging from 33 percent to more than 50 percent, categorized as moderately and severely affected by drought respectively.

Earlier the Manipur chief minister, N Biren Singh chaired a high level emergency meeting, attended by cabinet ministers, MLAs , chief secretary, vice-chancellor of Central Agricultural University, administrative secretaries of finance, planning, revenue, agriculture departments, deputy commissioners representatives of ICAR and other senior officials to discuss the drought-like situation the state is going through.

During the meeting, the chief minister reviewed the rainfall situation, crop conditions and water reservoir status. Official records reveal that the state experience more than 50 percent rain deficit this monsoon while reservoirs are stuck at 60 percent deficit level.

As per the Centre drought manual, at least 10 percent villages of the affected blocks are to be surveyed by physical inspection for ground trothing. Accordingly, the Manipur State Remote Sensing Centre (MARSAC) is assessing vegetation cover station based on the satellite data while Deputy Commissioners are making ground verification through revenue and agriculture department staff.

Based on the status presented during the cabinet meeting held on drought situation, the cabinet decided to declare the state as drought-hit.  Subsequently, the agriculture department was directed to issue drought notification immediately so that the Relief and Disaster Management Department would start preparing the memorandum for relief and submit the same to the Centre. The Relief and Disaster Management Department is to submit the memorandum for relief to the Centre within one week time while an inter-ministerial team from the Centre will verify the situation.

The released from the chief minister’s secretariat further stated that the biggest impact of drought due to deficit rainfall has been in the valley districts. Several hill blocks are also affected in the varying degree it added.

Agriculture minister V. Hangkhanlian had earlier stated that nearly 1 lakh hectares of arable lands in the state are being affected by the scarcity/deficit in rainfall.

As per the drought declaration certificate issued by the agriculture department,  Moirang block in Bishnupur district; Khengjoi in Chandel district; Saikot, Singhat, Mualnuam and Suandoh in Churachandpur district; Sawombung, Akampat, Irilbung , Keirao and Andro blocks in Imphal East district; Hiyangthang and Patsoi blocks in Imphal West district; Kamjong, Phungyar, Kasom Khullen and Sahamphung in Kamjong district; Langmeidong, Kakching Khunou and Sugnu in Kakching district; Saikul, Lungtin and Island in Kangpokpi district; Tamenglong and Tamei in Tamenglong district; Khongjom and Lilong in Thoubal district and Ukhrul, Chingai, Lungchong Meiphai and Jessami in Ukhrul district are severely affected.

The blocks which have been categorized as moderately affected includes, Nambol and Bishnupur in Bishnupur district; Chandel, Chakpikarong, Khangbarol in Chandel district; Churachandpur, Tuibong, Samulamlan, Kangvai, Sangaikot and Henglep in Churachandpur district; Sagolmang, Khurai and Heingang in Imphal East district; Wangoi and  Haorang Sabai in Imphal West; Borobekra in Jiribam; Kaching in Kaching district; Kangpokpi, T- Waichong, Champhai, Saitu Gamphazon, Kangchup Geijang   and Bungte Chiru in Kangpokpi district; Nungba, Noney or Longmai and Haochong in Noney district; Tadubi, Phaibung, Willong, Purul, Paomata, Songsong, Senapati in Senapati district; Thoubal, Yairipok, Heirok and Irong Chesaba in Thoubal district and Tengnoupal and Machi in Tengnoupal district.