IMPHAL, February 26: The State will get enough portable drinking water supply in the next one or two years, claimed minister of Public Health Engineering I Hemochadra during the third day of the seventh session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly.
He was replying to a Calling Attention Motion moved by opposition MLA L Ibomcha on the mushrooming of water supply business by private individual with questionable safety standards.
The MLA had raised that at present private water suppliers are providing to the day-to-day water needs of the people.
He proposed to the concerned minister to provide licence or permits to individuals or private parties for the supply of portable water for a fixed period of time by imposing a tax.
The need of the hour to check the water quality supplied by these private water suppliers, he had observed.
Acknowledging that it provides employment to the youth, he however insisted on the need for a proper framework and licensing of such suppliers.
While supporting the concern of the MLA on the issue, the PHE minister I Hemochandra said at present the state is facing a lot of problems.
There is a lot of work to tackle for provision of sae drinking water at the moment, he added.
The minister further expressed on the need for a multi department co-operation before regulating a law for the provision of safe drinking water.
PHED provide drinking water for consumption after proper treatment pocess of raw water, he observed.
There is also a need for the IFCD to provide proper and enough raw water resource, the minister concerned said.
There is no ban on self-service practices for provision of safe drinking water, Hemochandra said.
He continued he will personally look into the issue of licensing of such services and will further instruct the PHE department.
The good news is that in the next one-two years, there will be an improved PHED in the state, the minister said.
The minister also said that the PHED needs Rs 400 crore, but has received on Rs 15 crore in the departmental budget.
Rs 90 crore from the central sponsorship has been utilised to repair 14 defunct treatment plants, he said.