Ukhrul residents raise dirty tap water alarm; water woes continues
Source: Hueiyen News Service / R Lester Makang

Ukhrul, June 28 2015 : There seems to be no end to grinding water woes for Ukhrulites.

After the recent perennial scarcity of the life sustaining commodity in the town, the problem now is assuming a different form with the onset of monsoon.

This time around it is not due to its shortage but rather has something to do with quality or the lack of it.

A large section of residents in several localities of Ukhrul district headquarters has complained that they have been getting poor quality tap water (pipeline water) since the last many days.

"We have been receiving muddy water each time and sometimes even sedimented particles are present in the tap water," said Pamching of Phungreitang West.

He said that the water is so dirty that they cannot even put it into their home water filter, adding that there is no point in receiving this water if it is not potable.

A resident of Viewland East Phunganing poured out his displeasure, saying that: "Are we not worthy consumers that we are provided with such water." He also lamented that the quality of tap water provided to them by PHED Ukhrul is very doubtful as it is very muddy and could even contain harmful bacterial particles.

"It is the responsibility of the department to provide safe water supply to the public," pointed out Frank another resident of Phungreitang East, before adding that negligence of the department has resulted in poor quality of tap water.

When contacted PHED Ukhrul Division, Section Officer (SO) Ningchuimi informed Hueiyen Lanpao that there are certain shortfalls in infrastructural aspects that hinder the department.

He however clarified that not all localities in the town receive this muddy water, adding that several pockets within town areas including Wino Tang, Viewland, Mini secretariat complex, TNL campus and others receive well-filtered clean water through their respective zonal tanks.

He then attributed the current murky water phenomenon to inflow of muddy source water coupled with inadequate "slow sand filter tank." Elaborating this, he said that the main water source Khokthi at Shirui forest has remained murky as dirty streams of water keep flowing from the newly cut Mapum-Shirui IVR road which cuts through the forest just above the location of the water source.

He also said that currently the department has only one slow sand filter tank capable to take in/store only 3.65 lakh litres, before adding that another such tank is needed to meet the demand of all existing consumers of the town.

Maintaining that even the murky tap water is duly treated with alum, lime or bleaching powder, Ningchuimi informed that to do away with the muddiness, the department is considering to stop drawing water from Khokthi source for some time during this monsoon.

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