Maharabi reels under scarcity of potable water
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 16 2015: Maharabi, a village along National Highway-2, which is under Lamshang Assembly Constituency, about 18 Kms from the State capital has been facing acute shortage of potable water for the last many years as authorities concerned have failed to heed the demands of the public.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, Johnson a villager said that locals of Maharabi face severe hardship during the dry season as there is no water supply scheme or project of the area.

Even though there is a river nearby, due to excessive quarrying of sand and stone from the river-bed, there is less water in the dry season for locals to use, he added.

There is a water supply plant in the nearby area which used to supply water to Sekmai, but it has stopped functioning for the last many years.

"Villagers have never tasted what purified treated water tastes like", Johnson said.

During the month of March and April every year, villagers are compelled to buy water from private water suppliers as there is no water supply provision till today.

Y Binoradhe, Member of ward number-2, of the Gram Panchayat, commented that the attention of the authorities concerned was drawn twice by the Zilla Parishad and Pradhan after forming a committee to press their demands.

But till today there has been no positive response from the authorities.

She urged the authorities concerned to take up necessary actions at the earliest in the larger interest of the locals.

Highlighting some other problems of the area which villagers face, Johnson added that large stretch of roads of the village has been left unattended by the authorities concerned even though some parts were black topped some months back.

But the pathetic road conditions continue to dot major portions of the area.

He said that under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), contractors took up WBM Road Construction Procedure in some parts of the road.

Unfortunately there is no sign of progress in their works, he said and expressed concern that the road will be left unattended once again.

Meanwhile, a villager on anonymity expressed that authority concerned of the area make sure that various centre sponsored schemes reach the public.

But the irony is that under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), when there is work for ten days, villagers get to work for one day and get wage for three days which is Rs 570.The remaining seven days of work vanish into thin air, she added.

When asked about the health care facility of the area, she stated that the PHC at Sekmai provides all forms of the facility.

She also added that other subsidized material provided for BPL, APL and the poor reach the public.

Comment