PHED Minister Losii Dikho inspects water sources in Senapati areas
Source: The Sangai Express
Senapati, November 26 2020:
As part of the "Drinking Water for All" Mission, PHED Minister Losii Dikho inspected water sources in both Tumuyon Khullen and Mayangkhang Villages on Tuesday, November 24.The Minister personally walked 6 kms on foot to visit the water source at Mayangkhang.
He stated that the target to assure drinking water facilities in all parts of Manipur can be completed ahead of deadline.
Necessary tender processes have been initiated to cover every village or town in both valley & hill districts.
Addressing the media, the Minister after visiting the catchment area, stated that he was impressed to see the initiatives taken by Tumuyon Khullen village for constructing a dam to provide water for agricultural needs, vegetation and solving water scarcity issues without any assistance from the Government.
Losii Dikho also asserted that the department has been implementing various water projects in the State with support from the Prime Minister through active involvement of Chief Minister N Biren.
Acknowledging CM Biren who is in self-isolation due to Covid-19, he said people of the State, especially different Churches have been praying for his quick recovery.
The PHED Minister added that 30-40 percent of the project has progressed with 2 major funding under JJM & NDB in the State to provide drinking water to every household by 2024 .
With the joint initiative of the Chief Minister, the PHED Minister is hopeful to complete the mission by 2022.At T/Khullen village, the Minister lauded the villagers for preserving the environment and discouraging poppy cultivation which is the collective fight of both the Government and the people of Manipur.
Once the work is completed, the Minister stated that it could benefit many neighbouring villages in the area.
The Minister stated that the Department is implementing projects under the New Development Bank (NDB).
30% of the works have been implemented and some works have also been started in the valley.
Besides this, the Government is also implementing the JAL Jeevan Mission (JJM) including NDB project.
Fortunately, the region does not have to build big dams to bring long distance drinking water.
On technical difficulties while implementing the projects, the Minister stated that the tender process takes some time but is hopeful of no further delay.
The present pandemic has also delayed the implementation of the schemes as PHED officials cannot visit villages and sites due to movement restrictions.
Engineers and workers have been sent to the work site to start the work.
The Minister further mentioned that the project covers all villages in the state and not a single village will be left out, both in the valley and hills.
A Maraiba, village chief of T/Khullen stated that the village has been denied Government funds and facilities.
With more than 2000 population and 350 households, the village chief mentioned that the villagers submitted a memorandum highlighting water scarcity.
The village chief added that the village had restricted all kinds of marijuana and poppy cultivation in the area with an aim to preserve the forest in the region.
The village chief also appealed to the Government to include their project in the work program under the drinking water project.
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