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Our Correspondent
Imphal, July 27 (EMN): Manipur Relief and Disaster Management Minister, Awangbow Newmai, said the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has initiated the research and development activities and the groundwork for developing regional Landslide Early Warning System (LEWS).
He said the system will be made operational after successful ground evaluation from 2025 onwards as the state chief minister is taking up the initiative.
Minister Awangbow was replying to a question by congress MLA Surjakumar Okram on the third day of the 2nd session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly.
Regarding the recent massive landslide in Marangching in Noney District, Awangbow said the total number of fatalities were 58 as on July 23, three missing persons and 18 were injured.
Meanwhile, Forest Minister Th Biswajit Singh replying to the question by MLA Chinlunthang informed that there are 37 reserved forests and 23 protected forests of all the Districts of Manipur. Cheklaphai covering an area of about 52.84 sq.km was declared as Reserved Forest by Manipur State Darbar Resolution No.2 dated 12.12.1945 before the Indian Forest Act, 1927 was enacted in Manipur, the Minister added.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that steps have been taken up by the government to curb attacks on non-manipuris.
In the last five years from 2017 to 2022 (till July 25), 20 Non-Manipuris were killed. To stop such incidents, Singh informed the house that various preventive measures have been taken up by the state government. Regarding this, 14 FIR cases have been registered and investigation is going on, one accused was arrested and remanded into judicial custody.
He further informed that the district police in the state have been given instructions to always remain alert to curb incidents of attacks on non-Manipuris by way of collection of intelligence, regular frisking/checking, identification of suspected persons and regular checking of the places where the non-Manipuris reside.
The other preventive measures include deployment of police personnel round the clock in the worksites where non Manipuris are working in the districts, dedicated deployment in localities where there is sizeable non-Manipuri settlement/populations, surprise search and verification drives are done in random places from time to time based on inputs as well as on suspicion, frequent patrolling in and around vulnerable pockets where the non-locals are residing.
Local landlords and employers have been asked to be careful about potential threats and to extend cooperation to non-locals so that they do not have to move out.
Beat System is being implemented and concerned beat personnel are monitoring round the clock at the vulnerable areas of non-Manipuris residing in the districts.
Earlier replying to a calling attention motion by JD(U) MLA Kh Joykisan Singh on the reported scarcity of water for agricultural purposes in Imphal East, Agriculture Minister Th Biswajit informed the House that under the supervision of N Biren Singh, District Level Committee with all the line departments have already been constituted to look into the matter.
Similarly, Labour Minister H Dingo while replying to a calling attention motion by congress MLA K Ranjit singh, said that the matter relating to reported Night Shelter Home of the department being rented out by a private individual is currently under judicial process.