Water woes of locals in Imphal valley mounted as the prices of water from water tankers have been hiked. Now, those who have been suffering due to lack of tap water supply and are compelled to buy water from water tankers, have to shelled out more money to buy the water from water tankers.
Amid the complaints agaonst hike in water price by water tankers and as the water needs of the locals remained unaddressed, the All Manipur Road Transport Drivers and Motor Worker’s Union (AMRTDMWU) on Saturday said that while the government tax remains the same, the price of water has been hiked due to increase in transportation charge.
Most of the rivers in Imphal valley have dried up owing to lack of rain and sourcing of water has changed from nearby water supply to farther off places, secretary general of AMRTDMWU, Maimom Anil Meitei, said in Imphal on Saturday.
"The water supply of Porompat, Iroisemba and some other places have stopped providing water to the public," he said.
To meet the needs of the public, the water tankers are supplying water to the public; but the water tankers have to fetch water from Koirengei water supply, he said, adding that earlier they used to fetch water from Porompat and Iroisemba earlier.
As the cost of fetching water from Koirengei by water tankers is much higher than that of fetching from the earlier water sources, the water tankers are now charging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 per tank, he explained.
However, before increasing the charge, the transport union discussed the matter with executive members along with the transport department, said Anil.
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He said the union supports each step taken by the transport department as the officials took the initiatives under certain guidelines or rules and regulations. He appealed to the public not to spread misleading information that the transport department is taking extra tax on water.
AMRTDMWU further appealed the private water tanker (small water capacity) not to charge the suffering locals heavily.
Meanwhie, in Jiribam too, locals of Chingkoibung village (Babukhal) Hilghat gram panchayat in Jiribam district on Saturday urged the state government and the authorities concerned to complete the unfinished project of the water reservoir scheme launched under the PM Jal Jeevan Mission.
Speaking to a team of media personnel who visited the Chingkoibung village, one local P Singomani Singh said that the villagers have been facing acute water shortage as the region is hilly.
He urged the authorities concerned to complete the unfinished project of the water reservoir scheme under the Prime Minister Jal Jeevan Mission. The project had been left incomplete for three years, he added.
People in Jiribam hill district have been facing water shortage despite the efforts of the PHED department, according to the IFP correspondent in Jiribam.
Also Read: Imphal Water Crisis: If it does not rain
