Residents want to draw water from Iril, Imphal rivers
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, March 31 2015 :
Residents on the bank of Imphal river and Iril river on Tuesday expressed dismay with authorities for issuing order to prohibit drawing water from these rivers using pumps.
Executive Engineer of Imphal East Public Health & Engineering Department had on March 20 issued an order to ban all residents nearby both Imphal river and Iril river to pump up water following water scarcity.
At a press meet, representatives of Yourbung Youth Club, Etam Nungoi Juvenile Club and Thongkhong Club said the move to prohibit residents nearby the rivers to draw water was a flawed policy of the Government.
Yourbung Youth Club general secretary Dhaneshwor Ningthoujam claimed that people residing in and around Yourbung have been starved of potable water since the last two decades.
He said these residents depend on private water suppliers and argued that the State Government should provide safe drinking water to people if they are banned to fetch water from rivers.
Prohibiting locals from taking water from Iril river is irrational, he said and threatened agitation by volunteers of the local clubs from tomorrow against the order.
Dhaneshwor also aid members of these clubs will take steps to pump up water from Iril river.
Meanwhile, Manipur BJP RTI Cell convenor Mongjam Poireihanba has threatened the State Government to approach the Centre on the prevailing problem of water scarcity.
He warned that if need be, the party will go to Supreme Court over the matter.
Poireihanba said banning residents from drawing water from rivers by using pumps was not a right step of the Government.
He insisted that all people living in the areas of Kabui Khunjao, Nungoi Pourabi, Pungdongbam and Nongada have not been getting drinking water from water supply schemes at these places since five-six years.
Work for developing two water supply schemes at Takhel Mamang and Nongbram Mamang has also remained ceased till date, he further said.