In its best efforts to find a solution to the loss of water sources due to the ongoing communal outbreaks of violence in the state, the mendicant Manipur government has submitted a Rs 118 crore project report to the centre, says Manipur Public Health Engineering Department Minister Leishangthem Susindro Meitei (Yaima) on Saturday.

Talking to the newsmen at his office in Imphal on Saturday, the minister said that the most affected villages owing to the loss of water sources in the present crisis are Kangchup, Leimakhong and Bishnupur. These villages are located near the Kuki villages.  The villagers residing in these locations face hardships at present.

The minister in reply to a question said that the state government is optimistic that the centre would be giving a green signal for the new project for the welfare of these villagers. When the project is implemented, the state government will take various measures including digging ponds at the foothills. The valley of Manipur is mostly inhabited by the Meiteis and the hills by the tribals. The communal violence that broke out on May 3, 2023, occurred between the tribals and non-tribals.

The water requirements in the state vary depending on Climatic conditions, Human activities, Developed or urban areas, Developing or least developed or rural areas. However, the present water source loss is dependent on human activities as many miscreants have destroyed and stolen the drinking water pipes in different locations in the name of communal acts of violence, the minister said.

Surface water sources from the hills and rivers have been in an alarming position as they can’t fulfil the requirement of the state in sustainable development in some villages in the valley due to the present crisis in Manipur, the minister said. In Manipur, 90% of the total population uses surface water, whereas the remaining 10% uses underground water from hand pumps, tube wells, etc. for domestic purposes.

The total water demand for domestic consumption in Manipur is estimated at 202.81 million litres per day (MLD). The aggregate water demand of the town, including Imphal, is approximately 130.09 MLD. The rural daily domestic water requirement is estimated at 72.72 MLD.

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