THOUBAL, January 8: Agitated locals of Heirok Part 2 dug out a water pipe which has not been in use despite various appeals to the local MLA and Education Minister, M. Oken, PHE Department and Village Water and Sanitation Committee today.
The 20 m long water pipe was dug out from near the double post in front of market and discarded.
Stronger agitations will be taken up if the concerned authority still remained unmoved. Speaking to the media, FINE Society Club Secretary, Kh. Romio stated that the locals of Heirok part 2 have not received potable water for the past 15 years.
People use Heirok River water for drinking which was clean however, recently the river water has become unusable and the people have been suffering since then. The people along with FINE Society have been conducting democratic movements for the past 2 months demanding availability of potable water to the local MLA and concerned authorities with no result.
He further said that due to their unrelenting demands, the VWSC Heirok Part 2 had released untreated water directly from the river which has become filthy as a means to appease the agitated public. As protest against the VWSC, the people had demanded major repair of the water supply and to change the old water-pipe lines within a month.
However, VWSC only replaced 150m of the old pipe line and stopped further repairing of the water supply. Due to the carelessness of the VWSC, the agitated people of the area carrying spades and pickaxes started digging out the water pipes. When water burst out from the pipe, it was found to be untreated dirty water upon checking. Action must be taken up by the authority against the committee, said the Secretary.
The FINE Society Club also condemned the unruly behaviour of the OC of the police station who came to pacify the mob.
The Secretary further said that he strongly condemned the ignorance of the local MLA and PHE department despite the various appeals made to them. He further questioned the local MLA on his ability to turn the village into a model village when the people are not even provided potable water for over 15 years. He added that stronger agitation will be taken up if the concerned authority failed to take up strong action immediately, it said.