Imphal, October 28 2008: Instead of the earlier funding pattern of sharing half the amount in implementation of the Rural Water Supply schemes in the North Eastern States including Manipur, Centre has approved funding 90 percent of the amount while the remaining 10 percent has to be borne by the State Governments concerned, PHE Minister TN Haokip has informed.

Speaking at the occasion of commissioning an Accelerated Rural Water Supply scheme at Heingang Marjing Ching today, the Minister, who attended the function as chief guest, said that the new funding pattern will be applicable in all the future implementation of the rural water supply schemes in the North Eastern States including Manipur.

The Minister further informed that a joint meeting of all the PHE Ministers and officials of the North Eastern States with the Union Minister for Water Resources Raghuvansh Prasad was held at Manipur Bhavan, New Delhi last August.

During the said meeting, it was brought to the notice of the Union Minister that the target of the India Government to provide safe drinking water to all the rural areas by 2010 would not be feasible in the North Eastern States under the 50:50 funding pattern between the Centre and the State.

Consequently, at the intervention of the Union Minister, the Centre has agreed to provide 90 percent of the amount while the State Governments will meet the 10 percent, the PHE Minister informed the gathering, adding that an intimation to this effect was received in the month of September last.

In connection with the Accelerated Rural Water Supply Scheme which was commissioned from today, the Minister assured that the treatment plant of the scheme would be able to provide 8.20 lakh litre of water every day to meet the daily requirement of the people living in Heingang and Achanbigei area.

Over and above this, efforts would be made in consultation with the Chief Minister for setting up a water reservoir of 10 million gallon capacity so that the area of coverage by the scheme can be extended up to Mantripukhri.

The Minister also appealed to the people for co-operation in the works being taken up by the Department to ensure provision of safe drinking water by way of not dirtying the river banks through construction of toilet and sheds for cows and pigs.

Presiding over the function, IFC Minister N Biren observed that in the prevailing law and order situation, no official have been able to go to their place of posting and perform their duty peacefully.

In such a situation, it is to the credit of the dedicated officials of the PHED that the water supply scheme has been commissioned.

Therefore the people of Heingang and Achanbigei area should cultivate the habit of paying their water taxes regularly.

It is said the Accelerated Rural Water Supply which was commissioned at Imphal had been constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 49.32 lakhs.

The scheme envisages to provide safe drinking water to around 5364 population in Heingang and 2640 population in Achanbigei area.

The water treatment plant of the scheme would be subsequently upgraded to cover 17,585 population by 2031.So far the sheds of the plant there are water tankers of the total capacity of 3.70 lakh litre besides a service reservoir of 4.10 lakh capacity and 50 water hydrants have been installed in Heingang and Achanbigei area.

Along with commissioning of the water supply scheme today, the maintenance of the scheme has also been handed over to the joint water supply sanitation committee of the two villages.

From its side, the Department would be providing technical support to the committee for the fist 6 months.

Subsequently, the committee with the entrusted with the tasks of bill collection, maintaining the routine of water supply and removal/replacement of the spiked or defunct water pipeline.

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