Manipur government to supply 50% less water supplies; water sources drying up

Manipur’s Public Health Engineering (PHE) Minister Leishangthem Susindro on Monday informed the ongoing budget session of the state legislative assembly that the inhabitants of Imphal area require 133.52 million litres (of water) per day (MLD).

The minister also informed that 45 MLD of water sourced from Chingkhei hill through Maphou Dam could be made available for the public.

He admitted that the government will supply fifty per cent less than the normal supply as most of the water sources are drying up. Months from December to April remain dry (season) in Manipur.

Replying to another question on Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Susindro said that 75 percent households in the state received tap water under the JJM as per its guidelines. The laying of the pipelines is done by the government under the JJM.

JJM is a government initiative to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections by 2024 to all households in rural India.

Minister Susindro also informed that the state is targeting to complete water supply schemes taken up across 60 assembly constituencies under NDB (New Development Bank) scheme by 2024.

He said that the government runs the water supply schemes in urban area while Village Water Sanitation Committee (VWSC) in rural areas.

He also expressed that VWSC plays a major role in successfully implementing water supply scheme in the state.

Meanwhile Municipal Administration Housing and Urban Development minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh said that all stakeholders will be consulted for identifying alternate site for setting up a market shed for women street vendors of Khuman Lampak areas in Imphal after the completion of on-going assembly session.

The minister was responding to a calling attention motion by MLA Thangjam Arunkumar (Wangkhei) on the reported probable indefinite bandh on Imphal-Ukhrul road by the women street vendors of Khuman Lampak area.

Khemchand also informed that the government is trying its best to resolve the issue of street vendors in the state.

Earlier chief minister N Biren Singh, who is the leader of the house, moved discussion and voting on Demands for Grants, 2023-2024 for–Medical, Health & Family Welfare Services, Municipal, Administration, Housing and Urban Development, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Community and Rural Development and Planning for consideration. Imphal, Feb. 27 (EMN)