Efforts on to restore damaged pipelines: Susindro
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 28 2023: PHED is reportedly making all efforts to restore water pipelines damaged/destroyed during the violent crisis and also to develop water sources so as to ensure potable water supply to the public.

Speaking to media persons at his New Secretariat office today, PHED Minister L Susindro said that many pipelines and water sources were damaged/destroyed in the course of the violent crisis which erupted on May 3 .

There are reports of destruction of pipelines which used to supply potable water to Kangchup and Leimakhong areas and also in some areas of Thoubal district, Susindro said.

He said that officials were deputed to inspect the damaged water pipelines.

Saying that the PHED's water supply scheme at Singda dam is currently non-functional, he informed that due measures have been taken up to put the water supply scheme back into operation.

PHED has been working hard to achieve the Jal Jeevan Mission's target of providing potable water to every household by 2024, Susindro said.

He informed that the department has sent a proposal of Rs 118 crore to the Centre.

The department has been working to construct bore wells/tube wells powered by solar panels.

Water drawn up from these bore wells/tube wells would be stored in tanks/ponds which would be used as water sources for supplying water to the public after proper treatment, Susindro said.

Village water sanitation committees which were formed under Zilla Parishads and Pradhans are not functioning now as the terms of Zilla Parishads and Pradhans have expired.

Nonetheless, due process would be initiated soon to re-constitute the village water sanitation committees and bring them under concerned district administrations for the time being, the PHED Minister said.

The village water sanitation committees are generally tasked with collection of water taxes and running water supply schemes of their respective areas but other major requirements to run the water supply schemes are provided by the department, he said.

Although an order was issued in August for re-organisation of the village water sanitation committees, the same order could not be implemented effectively till date due to the State's restive situation, Susindro said.

An order pertaining to the water tax which would be collected uniformly from consumers by village water sanitation committees would be issued soon, he informed.

While water supply schemes are run by village water sanitation committees in rural areas, the department would directly run water supply schemes in urban areas.

All committees which existed earlier would be disbanded, Susindro said.

He further informed that necessary steps have been initiated to draw water from Loktak Lake through Loktak Lift Irrigation and supply potable water to the public.

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