Assembly session concludes

Four demands passed

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 4

 A total of Rs 371,831,800 was passed by the House today in four demands for grants. The demands include the public health engineering, minor irrigation, state academy for training and science and technology.

The demands for grants were met with policy cuts from N. Loken, D. Korungthang, K. Meghachandra, Fajur Rahim, Kh. Joykisan, Rk. Imo, K. Arthur and Okram Henry.

The main policy cut motion raised mainly for the PHE was failure to complete water supply schemes in time, lack of water supply in hill areas, failure of effective implementation of existing schemes, lack of administration in the PHE department, failure of the government to complete water supply schemes, no clear cut policy to ensure water for Ukhrul district among others.

PHE minister Loshii Dikho stated that the problems are not created overnight and the new government is just four months old. However, he maintained that inability to provide drinking water is a shame and it is a big issue.

He said that the main problems for water scarcity were caused by rampant deforestation, uncontrolled quarrying and siltation in major rivers. The problem of drinking water will be over in Imphal valley once the Toubal Multipurpose Project is completed.

He said that at least 45 million litres can be supplied from the dam. A plan is also being suggested to source water from the Barak river.

Dikho said that Ukhrul faces water crisis as it is a hill district primarily and village chiefs asks for royalty for the water source from the Shirui hills. He said that focus will be given in implementing rain water harvesting to mitigate the drinking water problems.

He stated that for the Bishnupur district, potable water will be sourced from Sanapat lake. Problems are there for laying pipes due to scarcity of funds. Water will be available at Mantripukri area after completion of the Koirengei water supply scheme in 2018 March. The minister added that all tenders pertaining to the PHE department are conducted through e-tenders only.