IMPHAL, Mar 24: There can be effective water supply in the state only if the consumers have a habit of paying regular taxes, stated PHED minister TN Haokip during the inauguration of Accelerated Urban Water Supply (AUWS) Scheme at Kakching Khunou on March 19. PHED Minister further maintained that the people should fulfill their duties besides demanding their rights. The duties of a citizen are much important than the rights, he noted.
TN Haokip also appealed to the people to harvest rainwater so as to cope with acute water scarcity in the state.
The works and transport minister K Ranjit stated that tussle in the process of awarding contract works is a great menace towards implementing various development works in the state.
Moreover, frequent bandhs and general strike pose severe disturbances during the course of implementing development projects in the state, he averred. The inauguration function was also attended by MANITRON chairman Dr Kh Ratankumar, principal secretary V Hangshi, PHED chief engineer H Imomacha and members of Kakching Khunou Nagar Panchayat.
The Kakching Khunou AUWS Scheme has been constructed at a sanctioned amount of Rs 288.77 lakh since 2005. It has a total capacity of 0.644 MLD and it will supply drinking water to about 10, 000 people of Kakching Khunou.
Mr. Minister! Do you pay water tax. Tax is to be collected, its your duty to collect taxes in time, not once in 10 years. We are fed up of your silly explanations. Do you give water 4 days a week and there is no ponds in the Imphal area, all have been acquired and govt. buildings of all sorts have been constructed. We have to buy water for hefty amounts. You have ruined us.