Sloppy sewerage project gets final thrust
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 27 2014: Maximum efforts are being devoted to the Imphal Sewerage Project so as to the complete the project partially funded by France by March next year.

If one sees the ongoing work at the treatment plant, one would be convinced that the project would be fully completed and commissioned by the end of next year, if not by March.

At the initial stage, the pro-ject was put in a state of com- atose because of the State Go-vernment's sick financial con- dition.

Nonetheless, execution of the project started since O Ibobi became the Chief Minister of Manipur for the first time about 12 years back.

The State Government sees the project as indispensable for making Imphal a clean city with modern sanitation facility.

The Imphal Sewerage Project treatment plant site in Lamphelpat, Imphal West district

A field survey by The Sangai Express at Lamphel-pat today found that civil work portion of the treatment plant was found completed.

French engineers of De-gremont company were found engrossed in the installation work of mechanical and electrical machinery.

Some PHED officials said that drilling of man holes and laying underground pipes in the first proved to be a tough task apart from causing many hardships to public for years.

"Now we are confident that the Imphal Sewerage Project would definitely turn out to be a reality," they said.

Highlighting the importance of the sewerage project in making Imphal a clean city of high class, the officials also underscored the necessity of cultivating a strong and ideal civic sense on the part of the public.

After this rainy season, laying of underground pipes along inter-village roads and streets would be kick-started.

Engineers from France have examined drilling of man holes as well as the laying of underground pipes done in the first phase.

They found all these works and gradient of the pipeline perfect.

Drainage of household effluents including human ex- creta through the sewerage system would require substantial volume of water.

According to the water supply manual, an individual requires 135 litres of water a day in urban areas.

But in Imphal urban area, an individual gets only 80 litres of water in a day.

This volume is drastically reduced during dry season.

As such, Imphal city may face acute shortage of water as and when the sewerage project is commissioned.

Taking due note of the additional requirement of water, PHED has been studying minutely on how to avoid water shortage when the project is com- missioned.

One of the measures under consideration is renovation of the water supply plants loca-ted in Imphal area.

The department has also been studying all possible measures to address the problem of water shortage witnessed in the State for at least three months every year.

As drainage pipes of the sewerage project would be laid along inter-village roads and streets, residents covered by the project may not construct/keep septic tanks within their residential compounds.

For all household effluents would be drained out through pipelines, an awareness campaign would be launched so that all households have connection to the sewerage pipeline.

Through this awareness campaign, citizens would be taught not to waste even a single drop of water.

Water already used in clothes, cleansing dishes and other purposes should be sent directly to the sewerage pipe.

Citizens would also given awareness on the potential damages that can be done by dropping plastics and plastic like substances in man holes, said the PHED officials.