Several Years down the line and Sewerage Project still in infancy
Deadline extended by yet another year
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 09 2012: The Imphal Sewerage Project which was earlier targeted for completion in March this year has been given one more year for completion.

Talking to The Sangai Express, PHED Superintending Engineer Th Lokeshore said that work on the Sewerage Project was stalled for 129 days last year due to the twin highway blockades imposed by the Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee and the United Naga Council.

During the protracted blockades, not a single bag of cement was available at Imphal even after offering inflated price.

Likewise, there was not enough fuel for running several machines, Lokeshore said.

In addition to the normally short period of working season, execution of the Sewerage Project was stalled for 129 days on account of the highway blockades.

As such, the target for completion of the first phase of Sewerage Project has been extended till March next year.

The work for second phase may be extended till 2014, informed the SE.

Road dug up in front of the MSRTC complex for the Imphal Sewerage Project

Even as maximum efforts were put in to complete the portion along Thangmeiband Watham Leirak, the same work has been suspended due to rainfall.

Excavations which are 4/5 feet wide and 20 feet deep have all been filled up with mud and water after incessant rainfall in the last few days thereby stalling the project work.

So far, laying of pipelines have been completed from Dingku Road till the treatment plant at Lamphelpat through Thangmeiband Watham Leirak.

Likewise, pipelines have been laid from Imphal Hotel area to Keishampat through Kangla pumping station.

On the southern side, laying of pipelines have been completed from Chingamathak till Keishampat pumping station through Secretariat area.

In view of the severe inconveniences caused to traffic because of digging up road sides for the Sewerage Project, pipes are being laid without digging up earth by using trenchless technology.

Major part of the pipe laying work has been already completed.

Pipelines which would connect Uripok to Shamu Makhong under BT Flyover and then to Nagapamal have also been laid.

Pipes have been laid by using trenchless technology from Babupara to Secretariat ATM booth, Yaiskul to Moirangkhom and from Nupi Lan complex to Jail Road, said SE Lokeshore.

The Sewerage Project being implemented with SPA fund of the State Government is being assisted by the Government of France by providing equipment and technical support.

The second phase of the project would be taken up streets and lanes of Imphal and greater Imphal localities.

Saying that this would cause certain inconveniences to the people, the SE appealed to bear the inconveniences for sometime.