Flood Victim Demand Committee threatens to impose indefinite bandh on NH-102

    19-Aug-2019


Our Correspondent
CHANDEL, Aug 19 : Claiming that the State Government has not yet released the final bill of Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) Housing Scheme for the 2015 flood and landslide victims of Chandel and Tengnoupal districts, Flood Victim Demand Committee (FDVC) has cautioned to impose indefinite bandh/blockade along National Highway 102 (Imphal-Moreh road) and Pallel-Chandel road from the first week of September if the payment are not made by this month.
Speaking to media persons during a press meet held at Chakpikarong Community Hall, Chandel, today, convenor of FVDC, BD Betha continued that many houses and paddy fields were destroyed by the flood that occurred in 2015.
After the victims of the calamity sought help from the Government by staging various agitations, the Central Government finally sanctioned Rs 30,000 each for the beneficiaries as a first phase of the special package, however, the payment of second phase (Rs 45,000) is yet to be made, he added.
He also said that the State Government had been lending a deaf ear even though the victims have requested repeatedly to release the final bill.
After the irate victims imposed an indefinite blockade along National Highway 102 (Imphal-Moreh road) and Pallel-Chandel road in October last to draw the attention of the State Government, PR and RD Minister Th Biswajit convened a meeting and assured the victims to meet the Union Minister to arrange  the pending bill before Christmas, he alleged, adding that the assurance given by the Minister goes in vain as it became unproductive.
Betha then urged the State Government to take up neccesary measure to address the plight of the victims by the end of this month.
SP Wangthoi, Chairman FVDC also lamented that though scheme like "Go to Hills" has been initiated for the welfare of hills people, the failure of the State Government to release the money for the victims is quite 'unfortunate'. He then warned that an indefinite blockade will be imposed along NH 102 and  Pallel-Chandel road if the demand is not met within the stipulated time.