Sanasabi villagers reel under water scarcity
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 23 2015: Sanasabi village, Tellou Chana Sheijang Gram Panchayat, Imphal East which is located 24 kms away from the State capital along Imphal-Ukhrul road is reeling under severe scarcity of potable water.

In a survey conducted by The Sangai Express, it is learnt that no water supply scheme has been sanctioned for Sanasabi village for the last many years.

Road connecting the village is also in a deplorable state which has compounded the hardships of the villagers.

Secretary of Development Committee Sanasabi, Laishram Romen told The Sangai Express that villagers have never tasted treated and purified water in their entire life.

It is such a sad scenario that the authority concerned has failed to provide basic needs to the villagers.

Every dry season, villagers suffer from various water borne diseases like typhoid, diarrhoea and cholera, said Romen.

"During the dry season, villagers are forced to dig river beds to collect water for drinking," Romen added.

The PHED, however, recently constructed a water treatment plant for the neighbouring villages of Tellou Chana Sheijang Gram Panchayat.

He stated that the water treatment plant will not have sufficient water to supply to the villagers all year-round as there is no perennial source of water in the said area.

He urged the authority concerned to take up neccesary steps at the earliest to provide adequate water to the villagers.

Meanwhile, Development Committee, Sanasabi president A Irabot stated that none of the Central and State Governments sponsored schemes have reached the village except MGNREGS and Swachh Bharat Mission campaign.

He said that though 100 days of work was guaranteed by the MGNREGS, villagers received only six days of work the previous year.

For the year 2015, they have received 18 days of work.

He maintained that the number of beneficiaries for various schemes for the poor, old aged people and widows are very low compared to other areas.

Sanasabi Primary School, constructed under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan has been remaining idle for the last one year, he said while urging the authority concerned to initiate appropriate steps and inaugurate the only educational institute of the village.

A Irabot further urged to improve the infrastructure of the only Public Health Centre of the area at Yaingangpokpi and provide adequate manpower.

He said that Sanasabi villagers have been stepping up efforts to make the village a 'model forest-conserving village' by planting trees in wastelands areas.

He, however, alleged that the State Forest Department officials have been frequently interrupting their plantation drive.

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