Imphal, August 22: The office of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department located at Leingangpokpi in the sub-divisional town of Jiribam, Imphal East has become a laughing stock.

Existing as it is for namesake only, the people of the sub-divisional town even have forgotten the existence of the Department.

The pitiable condition of the office has been noticed during a recent survey conducted.

Nevertheless, it's learnt that the erring employees have been withdrawing their salary regularly without attending the office.

The office has become a cowshed with locked doors throughout the year and animal excreta adoring the verandah of the dilapidated office building.

If one visits the office, one will find a lone muster roll (chowkidar) tending the office at his own will.

The face saving properties of the office that include some broken chairs, tables and ceiling fans which are kept in one of the rooms are being guarded by the lone chowkidar from being stolen.

According to the chowkidar L Mani Singh, seven employees are assigned duty at the IFCD office at Jiri.

But none of them have ever attended to their duties.

Mani confided that some years back, an AE, who is now an EE was posted in the office, but he has not to the office for the last many years.

But it is learnt that the EE is busy making his house at Uripok in Imphal as his office.

Sometime back, one staff used to come and read the water level of river Jiri and draw salary by submitting his report every month.

But he too has stopped working since quite a long time back.

As of now, there is no sign of water testing or reading as there is no employee except the hapless chowkidar.

In such a situation, the people of Jiri are of the opinion that abolition of the defunct office which was set up only on paper to cheat the public would be the right step.

They also wanted that the authority concerned should take up necessary steps to restore the functioning of the office and award deserving punishment to the erring employees.

Notably, some of the low lying areas of Jiri have been started invading by Jiri river which is flowing above the danger level.

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