Water scarcity: PHED submits action plan to State Govt
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, April 30 2014: Following the decision of State Cabinet for taking up immediate measures to tackle the present water crisis in the State, the officials of Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) have formulated and submitted an action plan to the State Government.

The action plan for "resolving the water crisis" was submitted by the PHED officials to the Chief Minister for getting his approval yesterday evening.

However, the related files have not been released by the Chief Minister till this late evening.

According to a highly placed official source, the action plan proposes utilization of three water tankers in each of the 60 assembly constituencies of the State for supplying water to the public.

The action plan also proposes handing over of necessary amount in cash to the Executive Engineer concerned in each of the districts for hiring of water tankers and thereof distribution of water in consultation with the public.

The source further mentioned that a total of 180 water tankers would be required to supply water to the public according to the action plan.

However, the required number of water tankers would not be available for hire in the State.

In this case, the action plan suggests utilization of Tata trucks which are capable of carrying eight 1000-litre plastic tanks each.

The whole action plan would require more than Rs.3 crore from the State's exchequer.

However, in view of poor financial position of the State Government, the PHED proposes requisition of all Government water tankers first, and then hiring of the remaining tankers.

The distribution of water to the public would be monitored closely by high ranking officials and engineers of the PHED on daily basis.

Several teams of engineers would also be sent to the spots where there would be distribution of water to the public.

The PHED officials are prepared to put the action plan into task as soon as it is approved by the Chief Minister.

Moreover, the engineers of some divisions of PHED have already started distributing water to the public using the department's water tankers, the source added.

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