Pumped water from Loktak reaches Malom but... Water yet to reach consumers

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Mar 31 : Even as the  water pumped from Loktak Lake by Water Resources Department (WRD) has already reached Malom,  a section of people in Imphal and surrounding areas continue to reel under acute shortage of water due to the delay in the undertaking of the department.
Earlier, WRD reckoned that water lifted by Loktak Lake Irrigation (LLI) scheme in a 18 Km Imphal Main Canal would reach Malom by March 20 while  tanker trucks would start providing the same from March 21 onwards.
It is reported that the water from Loktak Lake had reached Malom but the same hasn't been supplied to tanker trucks till the time of filing this report.  
After the Cabinet took the decision to draw water from Loktak Lake up to near Malom Oil Depot, at least three Ministers namely Works Minister Govindas Konthoujam, PHED Minister L Susindro and Education Minister Th Basanta Kumar had on March 17 inspected the LLI Scheme at Ningthoukhong to carry out the manoeuvre effectively.
People from Imphal areas had high expectations from the undertaking as many families spend a large chunk of money on buying water alone but the initiative has been delayed by more than a week to their dissatisfaction due to certain factors, compelling many to limit water usage.
The process of releasing water to Merakhong near Malom Oil Depot is still underway.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, an official of WRD said that they couldn't provide water from near Loktak Project at Ningthoukhong to the public on time as the department had to dismantle many bunds/embankment and level pond like surfaces dug up along the course of the Imphal Main Canal.
Saying that the department, nonetheless, has started releasing water to Merakhong, the official conveyed that their role is only to lift the water.
He also said that the WRD has submitted a report to the PHED and other departments concerned to hold a discussion on providing water to the tanker trucks so as to mitigate the  problem of water scarcity.