Water crisis deepens as dry spell continues in Ukhrul town
Source: Hueiyen News Service / R Lester Makang
Ukhrul, March 20 2015 :
With the dry spell continuing unabated, the prevailing water scarcity crisis has deepened in Ukhrul town forcing most residents of the town to walk long distances to seek water as local ponds and boreholes nearby have dwindled while pipeline supply reduced to once a week.
A large number of people, mostly woman folks could be seen flocking down the steep slopes toward terrace paddy fields with empty pots in traditional carriage baskets seeking the commodity at the crack of dawn till dusk every day.
"Since we walk a long distance and that too along the ridged track, we can hardly carry two potfull of water at one go," said a house wife Mimi.
Another house wife Awon rued that while a day';s cooking needs could be managed with a pot of water, it is hard to get water for washing, cleaning and the like.
In Ukhrul town, majority of residents rely on raw water from boreholes and other water bodies year round and water normally becomes scarce during dry season when underground waters gradually dwindle.
Cashing in on the situation, many water vendors in the town are doing a brisk business by selling the commodity from Rs.350 to Rs.500 for 500 ltrs.
However, majority of the populace cannot afford the service.
Meanwhile, the Ukhrul Water Supply Department has said that due to depleting water at Shirui sources, pipeline supply has been scheduled once a week.
According to AE Themreishang, at present the department reservoirs are receiving 1.3 lakh litres from Singuira source and 4.8 lakh litres from Kokthi kong at Shirui but the actual consumers requirement is around 10 lakh litres per day.
He said that currently there are around 1100 registered consumers in the town which is just a fraction of the town';s populace.
Meanwhile, he informed that his department is trying to ease the water shortage problem during the upcoming TBCA Quinquinnial Congress by providing mobile water to host churches through 10, 000 capacity water tanker of the department.
"But there will be no stoppage of rotational pipeline supply to public consumers during the congress which is expected to draw thousands of delegates, he added.