Tap water still a pipe dream for Thoubal Haokha denizens
Source: Chronicle News Service

Thoubal, November 03 2022: Lack of basic public amenities has become the norm at Haokha Mamang Konjil locality in Thoubal district under Wangkhem assembly constituency with the residential area still unconnected to any potable water supply scheme, despite the locality being an urban area and in contrast to central government's ambitious Jal Jivan Mission to connect every household to potable water supply by 2024 .

The locality has around 800 families with majority of daily wagers.

As most of the families cannot afford to buy potable water from private water tankers they have to resort to fetching the water from local ponds and from murky Thoubal river and utilise it for their daily needs after treating it with alum or other chemicals.

This has resulted in frequent cases of diarrhoea, skin diseases, cold and other ailments among the locals.

For the people of the area, potable water supply connection remains a distant dream.

Though the locality is only around 4.5 km away from Waithoupat Water Supply Scheme which supplies water for Thoubal district, not a single water pipeline has been laid in the entire Haokha Mamang Konjil village till date.

The said project was constructed at the cost of Rs 44.21 crore and inaugurated by chief minister N Biren on August 19, 2019.During inauguration of the project which has capacity of 18 Minimal Liquid Discharge (MLD), the CM had claimed that the project was one of the biggest achievements of the BJP led government.

Considering the scale of the project, people of Haokha Mamang Konjil are miffed they have not yet been connected to the water supply scheme.

Alleging indifferent attitude of the government, the locals appealed to the chief minister and department concerned to address the issue.

Speaking to TPC during a meet with Haokha Mamang Women's Association members and locals on Thursday, Association's treasurer Khunjamayum Akasini informed that in her 55 years of residency at the locality after her marriage she has not seen water supply connection or walked on a paved road in the area.

Though some rich families buy potable water from private tankers, most of the locals still use muddy water of Thoubal river or water from own pond for daily requirements.

Akasini continued that before election she was happy that the road connectivity would improve in the area, but now she feels disappointed as work for the paving of road in the area has not even started.

She further urged the CM to look into the matter and provide potable water connectivity as well as quality road.

The TPC also met one Elangbam Mutarei on her way back home from fetching water from Thoubal river, who said that the locals purify the murky water of the river with alum as they have no other option.

Stating that the locals are facing severe problems on various issues with local MLA also neglecting the locality, she appealed to the CM to ensure that the people of the area get water supply connection at the earliest.

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