State pleas centre for developing new water sources
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 28 2023:
PHE minister L Susindro said that the department has sent a proposal to the ministry for Rs 118 crore project to develop new water sources.
He also said that Urban Water Sanitation Committee (UWSC) will be dissolved and Village Water Sanitation Committee (VWSC) reconstituted across the state.
Addressing a press conference at his office chamber here on Saturday, Susindro said that UWSCs will be dissolved and the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) will take over maintenance and operation of water supply schemes in urban areas.
In case of rural areas, the existing VWSCs were under the jurisdiction of Zilla Parishad member or pradhans.
Since, the tenure of these rural local bodies have ended and elections pending, new VWSCs will be constituted through nominees appointed by the respective MLAs and these new committees will function under the DCs of the respective district.
An order in this regard had been issued on August 18, the minister said, adding that the step was taken up to ensure proper functioning of water supply schemes.
He also said that water tax will be rationalised in order to implement a uniform tariff and the rate will be declared soon.
On the other hand, Susindro revealed that the present crisis is affecting the functioning of water supply schemes due to multiple cases of cutting/damaging pipelines.
Water sources in the western hill ranges of Bishnupur as well as Kangchup-Singda and Leimakhong hill range have been cut off amid the crisis due to which villages fed from these sources are deprived of water supply.
In such a situation, the government has sent a proposal of Rs 118 crore project for development of new water sources.
Once ap proved by the ministry, the project will address the issue of water distribution in the crisis affected areas.
Most of the affected areas have community ponds, which can be refilled through tube well and bore well run by solar power.
As of now, the department is working on digging such wells and developing infrastructure to source water from Loktak Lift Irrigation, the minister said.
According to minister Susindro, surface water sources from the hills and rivers have been in an alarming position as they are not able to fulfil the requirement to the state and some villages in the valley are in deep crisis.
In reply to a question, the minister said that the state government is optimistic that the Centre will give a green signal for the new project for the welfare of these villagers.
When the project is implemented, the state government will take various measures including digging ponds at the foothills, he said.
In Manipur, water requirements vary depending on climatic conditions, human activities, developed or urban areas, developing or least developed and rural areas.
However, the present water source loss is primarily dependent on human activities as many miscreants have destroyed and stolen the drinking water pipes in different locations in the name of the communal violence, the minister said.
PHED chief engineer Shangreiphai Vashumwo, secretary Khedavarta Singh and SE L Darish were also present at the press meet.
As per reports, 90 per cent of the state's total population uses surface water, whereas the remaining 10 per cent uses underground water from hand pumps, tube wells, etc., for domestic purposes.
The total water demand for domestic consumption in Manipur is estimated at 202.81 million litres per day (MLD).
The aggregate water demand of the town, including Imphal, is approximately 130.09 MLD.
The rural daily domestic water requirement is estimated at 72.72 MLD.
The most affected villages owing to the loss of water sources in the present crisis are Kangchup, Leimakhong, and Bishnupur.
The villagers residing in these locations are facing a lot of hardships.
The valley of Manipur is mostly inhabited by the Meiteis and the hills by the tribals.
The communal violence that broke out on May 3,2023, is between the Kuki and the Meitei communities.
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