Imphal reels under acute water shortage
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 14 2009: "Looking for water in addition to all the daily chores including preparing food is really exhausting", said a lactating mother living not in a rural or remote area but within Imphal Municipal Council under Singjamei Assembly segment at Yumnam Leikai Ngakraba Leirak.

Though it is the primary duty of a popular Government to provide safe drinking water to its citizens, several localities within Keishamthong A/C, Sagolband A/C, Uripok A/C, Thangmeiband A/C, Singjamei A/C, Khurai A/C and Wangkhei A/C, all under IMC have been facing acute shortage or unavailability of safe drinking water.

During an exlusive suvey conducted by this reporter across 27 wards under IMC, it was found that several localities have been facing water problems all year round irrespective of whether it is rainy season or dry season.

People wait for their turn at a water pipe which comes in tickles

Some localities have limited access to potable water.

As water is essential for life, all the families from these localities, rich and poor alike have been buying water incurring huge expenditure over the years.

Department officials said that PHED is providing 16 million gallons of water every day against the total requirement of 25.5 million gallons within Imphal Municipal area.

Of the seven constituencies surveyed by this reporter, Keishamthong Assembly Constituency presented the most dismal picture in terms of availability of potable water.

There are several localities within this Assembly segment where water supply pipes have not been laid as yet.

No water supply scheme has covered Hodam Leirak Ngangom Leikai under Keishamthong till date.

As such, each household has been buying water at Rs 250 for 2000 litres.

This water bought at Rs 250 hardly lasts for five days, said a housewife.

The Social Union Club, Hodam Leirak has appealed to the authority concerned to extend water supply facility in the locality but it has come to nought, lamented one Soibam Tiken.

K Ibochou, a resident of Kwakeithel Nganappi Thong Thouda Bhabok Leikai under Keishamthong A/C said that they have not been receiving potable water for the last five years.

Each household has been buying water from private suppliers all these years.

Water from the water reservoir installed at Irom Pukhri Mapal cannot reach the locality, Ibochou said.

At the least, Rs 30 is spent on water every day for cooking, washing, bathing and different other purposes, said one Indibala.

Similar stories of water woes were also heard from the residents of Kwakeithel Moirang Purel, Kwakeithel Laishram Leikai, Pishumthong Bazar, Ningom Leirak, Khagempalli Panthak, Khagempalli Pankha, Huidrom Leirak, Ahanthem Leikai, Keishampat and Keishamthong.

It is reported that the Youth Social Club, Khagempalli Huidrom Leirak has already apprised the concerned Minister as well as the local MLA about the unavailability of potable water.

Accusing the Chowkidar of Irom Pukhri Mapal water reservoir of indulging in bribery and supplying water at midnight in connivance with some people, a volunteer of the club said that most people could not tap the water as they were unaware of the water being supplied in the dead of night.

Only a few people who knew in advance could tap water, he added.

Under Singjamei Assembly segment, Yumnam Ngakraba Leirak has not been receiving water from any water supply plant for the last four years.

One Loidang, a resident of the locality said that her family has been spending Rs 700 at the minimum every month on purachsing water.

She further reminded about local people staging protest demonstration on the demand for provision of potable water in the locality.

Potable water reached Chingmakha once in a week, said a woman of the locality.

She said that water cannot reached their neighbourhood regularly due to leakages in the pipeline.

One women vendor from Singjamei Chirom Leikai doing business at Singjamei Keithel said that certain quantity of water is available in localities nearer to water supply plants.

Most of the localities under Sagolband A/C have also been enduring the hardships of water scarcity or unavailability.

The only exception is the neighbourhood around Nepra Menjor water reservoir.

It is a long time since there has been no water supply at Takhel Leikai.

As such, the residents have no idea if they would ever enjoy the benefit of potable water supply.

"Water supply in the area has become perennial problem.

There is pipeline but there has been no water supply since a long time back" said one Mema who runs a hotel at Sagolband Meino Leirak.

"Water bought for Rs 60 does not last two days", she added.

The condition is bit better in Uirpok, Thangmeiband, Khurai and Wangkhei A/C for in these constituencies there is no locality where tap water is not available throughout the year.

Yet, many families have been buying water from private suppliers as the water supplied cannot meet the daily requirements.

One Shyamjai who used to hawk water on rickshaw said that 18 bottles of 15 litre capacity are sold at Rs 60.He said that a water-hawker can easily go for 20 trips in a day.

On the other hand, a PHED official mintained that the changing global climate, disappearance of water bodies, lack of civic sense among the people and shortage of power supply facilities are responsible for the inability to supply potable water in adequate quantity to the public.

Nevertheless, plans are afoot to install dedicated power supply in 11 water supply schemes under PHE Department so as to ensure adequate water supply in Imphal Municipal area, added the official.