State reels under severe water shortage
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 26 2015:
With an annual rainfall of about 1495 mm, Manipur has plenty of water resources, yet the State is now under severe water crisis and the State Government has proved to be too little helpful.
Many water supply plants in Imphal valley have stopped supplying water while many private water suppliers are earning double the income they used to some months back regardless of what their action has caused to the water bodies.
Peeved with the activities of draining water from Imphal river by private water suppliers, local clubs of Lairik Yengbam Leikai, Khurai Puthiba Leikai, Tharo Devi, Khurai Nandeibam Awang and Makha Leikai and meira paibis of the area have stopped the water suppliers with the help of Imphal East police.
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It has been reported that all the machineries of private water suppliers located along Imphal river at Tharoijam Leirak, Salan Thong, Arambam Leirak, Heikrumakhong and Chandam Lampak have been collected by the police and deposited at the respective houses of the owners of the private water supply plants.
While talking to Inunganbi Ingudam of Sagolband Yengkhom Leirak, who is one among the many reeling under the State wide water shortage commented that their locality receives water from the local water supply plant even though the quantity is too meagre to meet the needs of thousands.
Meanwhile, Takhelmayum Bilashini of Soibam Leikai, Citizens Club said that the people of the area have been buying water from private suppliers at a much higher rate.
Even though the place is just a kilometer away from Porompat Water Supply Complex, the area has been under severe water shortage for the past one month, she added.
She said, "Here in this locality there is no other alternative to get water except to wait for the mercy of the Lord" .
She asserted that the Government should have prepared before and worked out projects to preserve the enormous water sources.
Instead their work seems to be just in the media and on the table, she added.
Chongtham Tarunkeshor, a resident of Singjamei Chongtham Leikai blamed the Government for their indifference and failure to act when the time was right.
He said, "Our political leaders and bureaucrats are not far sighted enough, if they were we would not have faced such water scarcity" .
A shopkeeper of Khurai Nandeibam Leikai, M Joychandra commented that the water crisis could have been averted if the private suppliers had been stopped from draining away water from the bodies located in various parts of the city.
The Government should learn from the mistakes they have committed and stop such activities in the future.
Meanwhile Imphal East PHED has been delivering water through water tankers at various parts of Imphal East for the past three days said an official of the department.
Today one such tanker was pressed into service at Khurai Ahongei near NRL oil pump.