Siroy villagers yet to get sanctioned water pipes
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Nomita Khongbantabam
Imphal, June 19 2012:
Even though the Minor Irrigation Department had sanctioned water pipes to boost agricultural production in Siroy village under Ukhrul Constituency, the government has not yet provided all the sanctioned water pipes till date.
Such negligence on the part of the government has delayed development process in the constituency, lamented GA Shimray, a villager of Siroy village.
Speaking to Hueiyen Lanpao, Simray said that Siroy is one of the most beautiful places in Manipur where tourists from far off areas come to have a glimpse of the rare Siroy Lily and the beauties of the village landscape.
The Ministry of Environment and Forest had already approved conversion of Siroy Hill as a National Park and establishment of an Ecological Park in the village to increase tourist inflow.
He pointed out that a fertile land by nature; Siroy has the potential to become an agricultural production hub for Ukhrul district.
Realising this, the Minor Irrigation Department had sanctioned water pipes for irrigation purposes in 2008 since all hills areas faced shortage of water.
However, the department has failed to provide half of the sanctioned pipes even after four years.
As per the plan, the water pipeline is supposed to be 10 km long but half of the total length has been covered by the sanctioned pipes.
As a consequence, the project has failed to yield any positive result.
Populated by around 1500 people, Siroy village has not get any benefit of the water supply schemes launched by the Government so far.
The water tank constructed by the government is too small for the entire village as it is enough for only one family, Shimray said, and expressed desire for construction of a larger water tank which can hold water for the entire village.
Blacktopping of the Inter-Village Road from Siroy to Mapum under the centrally-sponsored scheme PMGSY was also left incomplete, he lamented.
He also expressed desire for completion of the construction work on the culverts and drains along IV Road so as to give safe passage to the villagers.
Moreover, electricity has been a distant dream for the villagers of Siroy for the last many years, Shimray rued.
He further appealed to the state government to complete the construction of infrastructures and quarters for the Headquarter of 6th MR since they will be guarding the village and surrounding areas from unlawful activities.