Central fund to check potable water quality
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 26 2014 :
The central Government has reportedly approved Rs 90 crore sanction for water treatment plant quality control and improvement works.
PHE Minister I Hemochandra besides accepting that it has been a huge challenge for the State PHED to ensure potable water to all the people asserted that the Government has been taking all possible measures to provide hygienic drinking water to maximum number of people.
Responding to NCP MLA L ibomcha's poser whether private parties/tankers supplying water to the people has the approval of the Government, the Minister said there is no specific law for prohibiting sale of drinking water by private parties.
While the Government is unable to ensure potable water to all the people due to increase in the number of population there is definitely concerted effort to maintain the quality of drinking water.
Moreover Government is planning to levy taxes on private water tankers to streamline the distribution system as well as maintain quality control, he informed members of the Manipur Legislative Assembly.
The State Government's commitment to supply sufficient quantity of potable water in Imphal and greater imphal areas has been boosted as Rs 90 crore has been sanctioned by the Central Government, maintained Hemochandra adding that the sanctioned amount is for quality control in water treatment plants and improvement of the plants.
Earlier raising the motion, L ibomcha proposed that steps for mandatory maintaining quality control should be adopted and private water tankers be taxed so that PHED too could contribute in the development of a welfare State.