Strife stalls Jal Jeevan Mission as water crisis looms
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, January 04 2024: The ambitious goal of providing safe drinking water to 4.5 lakh households of the state by this year under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), has hit a staggering roadblock - a conflict stretching over eight months, crippling the state's progress.

Launched in 2019 with a budget of Rs 3,137.42 crore, predominantly funded by the Central government (90 per cent), the JJM implementation has been stuck at a mere 77 per cent, struggling to overcome hurdles posed by ongoing ethnic conflict.

Shangreiphao Vashumwo, chief engineer of Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), shed light on the disruptive impact of the conflict, which is hindering timely supply of crucial materials needed for the project's execution.

"The conflict severely hampered the momentum of the project, obstructing material transportation from outside the state," mentioned Vashumwo with reference to challenges encountered due to disruptions.

Notably, logistical difficulties in conflict zones hindered the establishment of Village Water and Sanitation Committees, crucial for comprehensive rural coverage, further delaying on-ground implementation, Vashumwo lamented.

Despite serving Imphal and its environs, requiring 124 MLD (Million Litres per Day) of water daily, through 17 water treatment plants, disruptions in conflict-affected zones like Kangchup, Kangchup extension, and Potsangbam-II, coupled with sabotage at the Singda treatment plant's pipeline, severely curtailed water supply.

Vashumwo expressed determination to reinitiate work in these conflict areas by engaging local youth from neutral communities on contractual terms.

Additionally, plans to complete pipeline replacements and smart meter installations by mid-year aim to enhance water distribution efficiency.

The Scarcity of government-supplied water forced households to rely on private vendors, purchasing approximately 5000 litres monthly at Rs 350 per 1000 litres - an exorbitant expense.

Concerns about the procured water's safety persist, with no established government measures to monitor its quality, raising doubts about its potability.

Collaborative efforts involving governmental bodies, community engagement, and strategic interventions are pivotal to surmounting these obstacles and ensuring the timely completion of this critical project.

In parallel, Tourangbam Brajakumar, director in-charge of the Environment and Climate Change Department, highlighted a looming crisis arising from the drying up of natural springs and the disappearance of wetlands, contributing significantly to the state's water scarcity issue.

Brajakumar stressed the necessity of a governmental policy focusing on spring revival and effective Water allocation management to avert an acute potable water shortage.

"While regions like Rajasthan and Delhi, with minimal annual rainfall (200mm and 400mm respectively), sustain sufficient water supply throughout the year, Manipur, despite receiving 1600mm annual rainfall, grapples with water scarcity, which is indeed an anomaly, stated Brajakumar.

He emphasised the unaltered water cycle and consistent rainfall in Manipur over recent years, yet highlighted a shortened monsoon period lasting two to three months, leading to intense but brief rainfall.

This disrupts groundwater recharge, exacerbated by deforestation in hill catchment areas, causing spring desiccation and river water volume reduction, the director in-charge explained.

"Nearly 62 per cent of springs in the state have dried up due to this phenomenon," Brajakumar disclosed, underscoring the urgency of a policy addressing spring revival to alleviate the water crisis.

Highlighting the critical role of wetlands in environ -mental purification, Brajakumar mourned a drastic reduction in wetland numbers - from 550 to a mere 119, contributing significantly to the adverse climatic conditions prevailing in the state.

To tackle this issue, the department is- actively engaged in rejuvenating existing wetlands, aiming to mitigate the escalating environmental challenges.

The drying springs and vanishing wetlands, exacerbated by conflict-driven project de lays, paint a grim picture of the state's impending water crisis.

Without immediate policy intervention and concerted efforts, the situation may worsen, impacting the lives of its residents and the region's ecological balance.

The conflict's ripple effects on vital water infrastructure and the looming spectre of dried springs and vanishing wetlands paint a stark picture of an impending water crisis.

Immediate policy interventions and concerted efforts are imperative to avert the looming catastrophe.

Comment