Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 20 2009:
To assess the condition of drought in the State, a six-member official team of Union Ministry of Agriculture including the Deputy Advisor of Planning Commission arrived here today.
The official team led by Joint Secretary of Planning Commission Dilip Rath also include the Deputy Advisor of Planning Commission HP Sharma.
Soon after their arrival, the official team convened a joint meeting with the officials concerned of the State Government at the conference hall of the Old Secretariat.
Besides officials of Agriculture Department, IFCD, PHED and CADA, Deputy Commissioners of all the districts were among those who attended the meeting from the side of the State Government.
During the meeting, officials of the State Agriculture Department submitted a report to the visiting Central team.
The report noted that out of the total agricultural land in the State, 1,02,000 hectares have been so far affected by the drought.
Deputy Commissioners concerned have also reportedly submitted drought assessment reports of their respective districts to the Central.
In two sub-teams, the Central team would pay visit to inspect the condition of drought in Imphal West, Imphal East, Senapati, Tamenglong and Ukhrul tomorrow.
On the following day, the inspection would be carried out in Bishnupur, Thoubal, Chandel and Churachandpur district.
The State Government had declared drought in all the nine districts.
After their assessment, the Central official team would leave Imphal on August 23 .