Water crisis hit Ukhrul
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Ukhrul, March 25, 2013:
In the wake of the government's apathy towards the prolonged water crisis being faced by 17 northern Tangkhul villages, Raphei Katamnao Long (RKL) has threatened to disrupt the PHED water-tapping from Shirui hills � an arterial supply line of Ukhrul town.
Talking to Hueiyen Lanpao on Monday afternoon, RKL general secretary Soreiso Yangya said, "The people of 17 northern villages have been adversely affected by the PHED water-tapping from Shirui hills...the state government has failed to address our problem, despite repeated appeals." The RKL contended that the water-tapping from the Northern stream of Shirui hills has affected the habitation of 17 villages with the downstream areas facing acute water shortage.
"There is no sufficient water to irrigate the paddy fields, for cattle and human population as water holes are drying up," Yangya stated.
On August 23 last year, the RKL stated that a memo jointly signed by authorities of 17 villages had submitted a memorandum to PHE Minister I Hemochandra to redress the issue of water crisis of the villagers for some years on.
However, it rues that the concerned Minister has never responded to their appeals.
Presently, the PHED has been tapping water from the Shirui hills to the tune of 23-lakh litres per day to meet the demand of growing population in Ukhrul town.
The northern Tangkhul student's body has been urging the PHE department to tap water from the southern stream of Shirui hills, which it opined is a better alternative for the department and the 17 villages.
In last year alone, the RKL stated that headmen from 17 villages came to Imphal twice on the request of the minister.
However, it rued that the visiting villagers were never given an audience.
For some years on, the body stated that the water crisis has hit hard the northern villages comprising Shirui, Lunghar, Longpi kachui, ningbi Khullen, Kalhang, kuierei, Marem, maramphung, Chingjaroi, Chingjaroi CV, Namrei, Naghui, Halang, Paorei, Phungcham, Paoyi and Luirei Shimphung.
Peeved with the indifference of the state government towards the issue, the Raphei Katamnao Long (RKL) has set April 15 ultimatum to the PHE Minister.
"The RKL will be compelled to take its own course of action if the concernment Minister fails to respond by April 15.We may have to put the supply to a halt," it warned.
Unless the issue is resolved and if at all the RKL resort to its own course of action, the outcome could spell a major water crisis for the growing population of Ukhrul town.