IMPHAL, March 30 (Newmai News Network): The residents of Imphal are likely to face acute shortage of water if it does not rain in the next few days as the water level in the Singda Dam which supplies water to most of the localities of Imphal is alarmingly low, said a reliable source to Newmai News Network today.
According to the source, the water in the Singda dam is enough to supply the needs of the general public for around 15 days only. Similarly, the water level in the Imphal and Iril rivers are also very low and supply of drinking water to the public is likely to be affected in the areas covered by the water supply schemes depending on these two rivers, added the source.
It may be mentioned that most of the localities of Imphal East and Imphal West districts and some other districts of the state are facing acute shortage of water as the rivers and ponds which are the main sources of water for people of the state are dry due to failure of the rain. People buy water at exhorbitant price in order to meet their daily requirement of water. Long queues can be seen at most localities with people standing with buckets and other containers near public hydrants to fetch a few buckets of water.
Meanwhile, tension was high at Thangmeiband ward no 3 where two groups of people staged sit-in protests. The Apunba Naharol Yaipha Thousil Kanglup (ANYTK) organised a sit-in protest in front of the godown of MM gas agency to protest the attitude of the local MLA, Khumukcham Joykisan Singh, alleging that the MLA had assaulted the finance secretary of (ANYTK). The protestors alleged that the MLA came with his escorts and supporters and disconnected private water supply connections on the ground that they were unauthorised connections.
On the other hand, the Thangmeiband Kendra Development Organisation (TAKDO) staged another sit-in protest nearby protesting the allegation of ANYTK against the MLA, stating that the allegation was totally baseless as the MLA had not assualted anyone in connection with disconnecting the private water supply connection. The members of TAKDO stated that the MLA had found many unauthorised domestic connection while inspecting the water supply pipes in the area along with PHED officials, and had asked the PHED to disconnect the unauthorised connections in the interest of the public who were facing acute shortage of water.
Khumukcham Joykisan stated to the media that he was inspecting the water pipes on March 28 with PHED officials for leakages and unauthorised connections when he found that there was one connection from the reservior line which supply water to the reservior which was totally illegal for private consumers. Unfortunately, there was a misunderstanding by some people regarding his endeavour to supply drinking water to the people of Thangmeiband constituency within 3 months, clarified the MLA.
