Imphal, December 06: With the ongoing cease work strike launched by the Public Health Engineering Dept's employees against the abduction of three engineers entering the third day today causing acute scarcity of potable water in the urban areas, the Govt is mulling over to find alternative ways to supply water to the public.

The strike has seriously affected the urban localities particularly in Imphal Municipal areas where has no big ponds or other water sources.

Residents of these areas are having a harrowing time as they have to fetch water from available water sources which may be a few kilometers away.

The water scarcity problem has been further compounded today after the All Manipur Water Tanker Owners' Welfare Association had too decided to stop supplying water to the public as a mark of protest against the abduction of three engineers by Kuki Liberation Army for a ransom of Rs 50 lakhs.

Assistant engineer AK Sarat and SO Kh Tombi and W Bhaskar all working in the PHBD Imphal East Div were kidnapped by KLA cadres while they were carrying out a survey work at Nongpok Keithelmanbi area on Nov 8.In connection with the water scarcity problems currently confronting the State, a meeting presided by Th Devendra who is presently in charge of Chief Minister's post was held at the Works Minister's office this afternoon deliberating on the ways and means of tackling the problem.

The meeting was attended by PHEFJ Minister Govindas, Chief Secretary Jarnial Singh and other high ranking officials.

Members present at the meeting appealed to the striking employees to suspend their agitation in the interest of the public.

Meanwhile, the State Govt has directed the State Fire Service and the State Police Department to provided water at two hospitals (RIMS and JN Hospital) and Raj Bhavan respectively as temporary measures.

Mention may be made here that the PHE supplies 150 lakhs gallons of water per day to the Imphal urban areas while 40,000 gallons of water each is supplied to the two hospitals daily.

When contacted PHED Minister K Govindas who arrived here yesterday told The Sangai Express that the Govt is working out alternative plans to supply potable water to the public within the shortest possible time.

A definite decision regarding the water scarcity problem is not possible at the moment as the Chief Minister is out of station, said Govindas adding that he would convene a meeting with the Chief Secretary to discuss on the matter.

On the Govts move to secure safe release of the three engineers Govindas said the security forces are ready to launch resource operation, but the family members have flatly refused against such a move.

On the other hand intensifying their strike, employees of the JAC today locked all the important main office and other rooms where tools for operating the water scheme area are kept.

Meanwhile, no response from the Govt has come pertaining to the strike as well as the abduction, some strikers said adding that as already decided, they would continue their strike till the three engineers are released safely.

They also warned of mass resignation if the Govt takes up action against them during the course of the stir.

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