<span style="color: #222222;">In Manipur, the State Government has decided to officially close the search and rescue operation conducted at the landslide spot at Makhuam Village in Noney district. Speaking to media persons at Imphal today, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said that after a thorough discussion with all the stakeholders, the government decided to officially close the rescue and search operation today. However, individual efforts to retrieve the missing properties and types of machinery could still be carried on by any organization or agency.<br />''<br />'' It may be mentioned that the landslide occurred on the intervening night of 29th and 30th of last month. The rescue and search operation has been conducted for the last twenty-one days and the team has been able to retrieve 56 dead bodies while five are still missing. Eighteen persons were rescued alive.<br />''<br />''Meanwhile, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between North Frontier Railways, Noney District Administration, and Makhuam Village Authority at the Chief Minister's Secretariat today in presence of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and State Relief and Disaster Management Minister Awangbow Newmai.<br />''<br />''The MoU was regarding the charter of demands put forth by the Makhuam Village authority in the matter of addressing issues arising out of the recent massive landslide that occurred at Noney District. The MoU signed today included that until permanent employment could be provided to the next of kin, the Railways would ensure providing contractual employment in one of its construction agencies near the site and the Railways with Noney/Kangpokpi District Administration and the village authority shall jointly survey and assess the extent of the damage done and submit the same to railways for compensation.<br />''<br />''The MoU also contains other points which include the Railways to hold extensive discussions with IIT, Guwahati, Manipur University, and other like-minded institutions to have a detailed investigation for working out how the hill slopes adjacent to Railway's boundaries in the Jiribam-Imphal project can better be monitored and others.<br />''<br />''It may be mentioned that more than 700 personnel from various organizations were engaged in the Search and Rescue Operation (S&R) with more than 43 machines. Chief Minister N. Biren Singh had also earlier announced ex-gratia of five lakh rupees each to the Next of Kin of the deceased and 50,000 rupees for the injured persons. In addition, 30 lakh rupees were also sanctioned for management of the S&R operations. For those cases, where the bodies are still not found consisting of one Territorial Army, three villagers, and one VSC, the ex-gratia may be paid after observing necessary inquiry and formalities which would take a period of 30 -35 days.</span><br />