Imphal, November 03 2008: THE DRINKING water facilities would be available in the greater Imphal area once the renovation and distribution networking works of the old and new water supply schemes in and around the town is completed.

Manipur's Public Health and Engineering department minister T N Haokip made this promise while speaking to a gathering of an inauguration function of a water supply scheme at Moirangkhom near here on Monday.

Haokip said, "we're going to take up a large scale pipeline replacement exercise as well as up-gradation and renovation of the old treatment plants".

The minister however failed to give any dateline for it.

Instead he called upon the Imphalites to bear with the department for sometime until the works arecompleted.

Haokip said "the tremendous increase of population in Imphal and lack of proper distribution network of the water supply besides people's lack of awareness about the value of water are some of the reason behind the government's inability to provide adequate water supply".He also informed the gathering that water scarcity is not only a state but a global issue.

For the smooth functioning of maintenance of the water supply schemes in the Imphal area in the long run,the Minister said "our department is expecting a local management committee for the maintenance of this scheme".

Former IAS officer and writer Elangbam Sonamani who presides the inauguration function also willing to have a local management committee for the Moirangkhom water treatment plant which have the capacity to produce 2.24 million litres per day."People still have the apprehension that how long such plant will function,so we need to have a management committee at the local level" the senior citizen said adding "however we need at least one representative from the PHED in the committee".

Chief Engineer PHED G Joykumar, Director of state's Planning department K Mangi Singh and former senior engineer Lalit of Moirangkhong also attended the inauguration of Rs 86.56 lakhs worth treatment plant which targets to cover major portion of Yaiskul assembly constituency including Moirangkhom, Janmansthan, Bokulmakhong, Chingakham Leirak, Sougaijam leirak, Yumnam leikai and Thokchom Leikai.

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