Water scarcity hits hard Imphal residents, dry spell to continue
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, February 15 2023: With majority of water supply schemes in Imphal areas suspending service due to drying up of rivers which served as main sources of water, water scarcity has hit some areas in greater Imphal.

Almost all the water supply schemes providing water in greater Imphal areas have stopped supplying water since the past few days and families in some areas of greater Imphal are now relying on private water tankers and spending around Rs 500-600 on purchasing 1,000 litres of water.

Around a month back, the government/minister announced some measures to lessen impact from water scarcity in Imphal areas, including linkage of pipeline from water supply scheme at Chingkhei Ching in Imphal East district with the existing pumping stations and use of water tankers in areas facing water scarcity.

Though hectic works are on to connect pipeline from Chingkhei Ching water supply scheme with the existing pumping stations in Imphal areas, there has been no deployment of water tankers in Imphal areas despite the government's announcement.

With the measures announced by the government remaining unrealistic as of now, some section of people badly hit by water scarcity problem have now begun to question the measures and asked as to where had the water tankers been deployed.

As water supply schemes had stopped supplying water, families in some areas of greater Imphal are now depending on private water tankers for their daily water requirement.

Until the past few weeks, the cost of 1,000 litres of water from private tankers was Rs 200-300 but the price for the same quantity has gone up to Rs 500-600 .

A small family utilises 2,000 litres of water in a week on an average and accordingly such families spend around Rs 1,000-1,200 a week on purchasing water from private tankers.

Though rich families would be unaffected by such expenditure, it certainly is a burden for poor families.

Due to drying up of rivers flowing in Imphal areas which served as main sources of water, major water supply schemes at Porompat, Tao-thong, Thongju and Kongba have now stopped providing water to private water tankers.

Even though some private water treatment facilities in Porompat area of Imphal East district continue to sell treated water to private tankers, price for 2,000 litres of water has been hiked from Rs 100 to Rs 400.This compelled some sections of people to raise queries as to why private water treatment facilities are hiking price of treated water independently and if there is no government authority to look after them.

It would be beneficial for people particularly economically weak families if the government look after private water treatment facilities closely and allow them to open under a strict regulation.

In the middle of January month, PHE minister L Susindro along with some government officials boarded a helicopter and identified poppy plantation areas in hills.

Minister L Susindro informed media persons after landing at Imphal airport on that day that vast area in hills have become bare due to poppy plantation and cited it as one main reason for drying up of rivers.

On the same day, minister L Susindro announced measures to be taken up to prevent water scarcity in Imphal areas.

The measures include linkage of pipeline from water supply scheme at Chingkhei Ching with the existing pumping stations in Imphal areas and deployment of water tankers in greater Imphal areas facing water scarcity problem the most.

With the measures announced by the minister yet to be translated into action till date, people badly hit by water scarcity problem are beginning to question about the measures.

Meanwhile, climate change has brought significant change in the weather and rainfall pattern.

As per report of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Lamphelpat, normal rainfall in the state in the month of January is 12.8mm but there was not a single drop of rain in the entire January month this year.

Normal rainfall in the state in the month of February is 38.8mm but there has been no rain despite approaching middle of the month this time.

On the other hand, the Guwahati-based Regional Meteorological Centre of India Meteorological Department in its district-wise weather forecast issued on February 13 said that all the 16 districts of Manipur will experience dry weather till February 17 .

As such, water scarcity problem in some areas of the state would only aggravate if there is no rain.

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