JJM delivers rusted tap sans pipeline in Noney village
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 31 2022:
There is a saying among the common people of the state that any welfare scheme, no matter how strictly they are implemented, has the tendency to go haywire once it reaches the state.
It may be a mere saying, but the completed work of a water supply scheme constructed under Jal Jeevan Mission (JMM) at Charoichagotlong - 1 (Phoibut) village in Noney district is proving it to be true.
JMM is an ambitious project of the central government to deliver pipe water connection to every household of the country.
However, in this village of Noney district, tap water with cemented stand is the only delivery made to the households without any pipeline to connect those taps with the water supply reservoir located about half kilometre away from the village.
The situation came to light during a recent visit by a media team from Imphal to the village.
According to a signboard erected by PHED, the water supply scheme was commissioned under Jal Jeevan Mission at a cost of Rs 50 lakh.
Construction work began from September 23, 2020 and was completed on March 31 this year.
The total number of households that the water supply scheme is supposed to deliver tap water is 92 .
During the visit, the media team found cemented tap stand in every household without any connection.
Only three or four house holds were found getting pipeline connection.
As a result, the tap stands were found lying in corners of the homestead lands rusted.
According to a local elder named Pourienlung Gangmei, the villagers rejoiced that they would finally get household tap water connection when the project was first brought to the village.
After two years, all their hopes vanished as the construction company left the tap stands without any pipeline connection in all the households of the village except for three or four.
The company brought GI pipes for laying pipeline in the initial stage of the project but recollected the same as the project progressed.
Even though the project has been completed about seven months ago and every household got their own individual tap stand, they have to go and fetch water for daily use from the reservoir located about half kilometre away from the village, he said and strongly decried inaction of the government, which often claims to be the champion of anti-corruption policy, despite written complaints filed to chief minister N Biren and local MLA Dipu Gangmei in May this year by two residents.
Gangdimlung Kamson, chairman of Peidai, an apex body of 'Thoubei' of four nearby villages including Chagoicharotlong-1 village, said that he had recently inspected the situation following complaints from the villagers.
During his inspection, he found their claims to be true as there was no pipeline connecting with taps in individual households, he said while drawing attention of the state government to look into the matter, take up appropriate actions against those involved and lay pipeline at the earliest so that the villagers can enjoy benefits of the water supply scheme.