Churachandpur in the throes of water woes
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 02, 2011: With celebrations of Christmas and New Year over, common citizens in Churachandpur district were once again reminded of the water woes that the whole district is perpetually facing and which will be at its worst as the summer sets in.

Back in midsummer 2009, the thirst for water led a team of young media enthusiast called 'Zogam Media Watch' to search the internet.

The group found from the website of the DoNER ( the Ministry of development of North East region) that a whooping Rs 213.26 lakhs and Rs 204.64 lakhs were approved for construction of water supply scheme for Thanlon and Singngat sub division respectively.

Motivated by the tremendous cases of success in seeking information that common citizen rightly deserved by the use of the Right to Information Act 2005 in different places of India , the media watch group filed an application in March 2010 asking for detail information regarding the said project and status of its implementation.

The Ministry have reportedly responded in June 2010 including detail documents, informing that the funds for the two project for Thanlon and Singngat in Churachandpur District, were released in July 2009 and that the State Government is required to furnish utilization certificate.

The Ministry also stated that the said project is slated to be completed within 24 months from the date of sanction.

A letter received from group stated that they were apprehensive of the water scarcity and status of the project work as the time frame of two years for completion draws near and so is summer.

That the construction beside being far from completion is below expectation.

The group wrote that the said project is the only hope for the people of these areas.

The letter also stated that due to the scarcity since past years villagers have to purchase water from tankers.

The group were also apprehensive of volatile situation of areas like Thanlon and Singngat, inhabited by different ethnic communities.

It may also be mentioned that the other water supply project include Rs 2.97 crore for Saikot , Rs 3-79 crore for Chandel Rs 3.43 and Rs 2.56 for Liyai and Motbung, Senapati, Rs 6.91 for Ukhrul, Rs 7.64 for Imphal west Rs 1.25 for Sangai kot and Rs 1.25 for Changpikot.

According to the media watch group the general public were not even aware of said water project until the group filed for information.

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