Imphal, July 10: Fully concurring with the observation of Opposition MLA O Joy that flood has been a recurring feature in Manipur, IFCD Minister N Mangi today informed the House that his department has stepped up efforts to combat the impact of flood.

Raising a call attention motion during the morning session of the House today, Opposition MLA O Joy said that though there is an Irrigation Act in place, river banks are being dug up with impunity as if there is no authority to check such practices.

Rampant digging up of the river banks do nothing except weaken the natural embankments, he observed.

Agreeing with the observation of O Joy, Mangi said that the embankments laid by the IFCD are routinely dug up by other departments such as the PWD to lay new roads.

The Minister also fully agreed with the observation of O Joy that one of the primary factors for the frequent occurrence of flood is the failure to open the Ithai sluice gate in time.

Joy said that the failure to open the gate prevents the river water from flowing thereby leading to over flowing as well as breaching the river embankments.

Concurring with the Opposition MLA, Mangi said that to ensure that the Ithai sluice gates are opened on time, a team of the IFCD led by an Assistant Engineer have set up office at the National Hydro Power Corporation, which over sees the Loktak Project.

Recalling the devastating flood that ravaged the State last year, O Joy called for a more sustained effort to combat the menace of flood and added with good measure that last year's flood occurred after the Chief Minister had issued a clarion call to all the Government Departments to jointly fight the menace of flood.

Mangi gave a detailed account of the water flow and the river system in Manipur and the factors responsible for the occurrence of flood in the State.

There are two river systems in the State, said Mangi and identified them as the Barak river system and the Manipur river system.

The IFCD Minister said that the Barak system which drains away the water through Senapati, Tamenglong and Churachandpur does not cause flood.

Giving a profile of the Manipur river system, which is chiefly responsible for flood in Manipur, the Minister said that Imphal river which has its catchment area at Kangpokpi, Iril river with catchment area at Saikul and Thoubal river with catchment area at Litan empty themselves at the Manipur river.

The catchment area at Litan covers an area of 527 square kilometres, he added.

A number of other rivers like the Nambul and other rivulets from Churachandpur which empty into the Loktak lake then flow out through Khordak and Khuga river and flow into Manipur river, Mangi added.

Rivulets and streams from Thoubal side also empty into Manipur River.

The huge water volume of Manipur river is one of the main factors for floods occurring in the valley areas of the State, informed the Minister.

Mangi further said the rampant deforestation in the catchment area, the siltation of lakes and river beds, encroachment on the river banks are some of the other factors for the frequent flood.

Stating that long term projects have been envisaged, the IFCD Minister said that in consultation with WACO, projects have been envisaged to clean the river beds.

The Minister said that a high level committee consisting of all the departments under the Chief Minister and security personnel including the Assam Rifles has been formed to combat the impact of flood.

All flood fighting material have also been moved to the districts and not kept at Khoyathong as was done earlier to save time.