IMPHAL, April 24: The issue of water scarcity in the state is apparently heading for the worst with the heat continuously tormenting the state even in the interior regions.
The department has also continued to draw flak from various quarters for being “short-sighted.”
More reports about the shortage of water keeps surfacing which has added to the woes of the people especially in the interior regions where there are no water supply schemes and people have to solely depend on water from nearby sources like creeks, ponds, streams, etc.
Talking to IFP, Kimboi from Monglong village, Churachandpur district said that her village is about 30 km from the nearest town and her family and others solely depend on gorges or creek to draw water for daily uses.
But with the nearby water sources drying up fast we have to walk the extra mile to collect water, she said.
Kimboi revealed that women in her area now have to walk for about 3 km away from native village since the last few days.
Moreover, she claimed that water has become the top priority that even the kids have missed their schools as the whole family are engaged on fetching water.
She further expressed apprehension that the shortage might affect the area’s agricultural production.
The situation is similar in Ukhrul district, according to Somila, a villager of Kasom Khullen.
The only available water source has been occupied by the Assam Rifle who restrict the villagers from frequenting the area.
Now, three villages including Kasung, Kangbung and Menthoram depends on the Taretlok gorges about 20/30 km from the village.
Even in Bishnupur district the home of the Loktak Lake the largest fresh water lake in the North East region, the locals are complaining of shortage of drinking water.
A local from a village near the Loktak Project Manglem claimed that even as the people of Bishnupur have the privilege of tape water from Loktak project treatment centre but the rationing have become irregular since the past few days.
He opined that the public cannot rely on the tape water from the treatment plant as it has often caused water borne diseases among the children.
Meanwhile, the North East Dialogue Forum Manipur (NEDF-M) in a press meet convened at the Manipur press Club this afternoon blamed the PHE department for the prevailing situation.
Kh Rebati Raman, member of NEDF-M interacting with the media persons, while taking serious note of the situation alleged that the root cause of the situation is due to the short sighted policy of the PHED.
Till date the successive Governments have failed to implement a long term policy like rain water harvesting, conservation and preservation during monsoon seasons.
He further expressed his apprehension that the situation might inflict scares of agriculture product in the state.
Contending that the scarcity has affected only the poor and needy people, he alleged that the ministers, MLAs and bureaucrats are hardly affected by the issue.
Rebati further appealed to the government to take up necessary measures in order to avert a real crisis before urging to initiate the required state action plan to prevent such water shortages in the future.