'Sewerage project to be completed by September'

Imphal, July 21: “The much delayed and long awaited sewerage project for Imphal started with French assistance way back in 2004 will see the light of the day in a few months time,” said Chief Engineer of Public Health Engineering Department today while interacting with media person at a press conference organized by DIPR at its office complex at Moirangkhom as part of a series of press conferences designed to highlight the development activities of the various departments of Government of Manipur.

“The project undertaken at a revised cost of Rs. 323.78cr (State share Rs. 282.24 and Rs. 41.54 Crore French / EAP component in kind) which will cover Imphal zone I which include Municipal Ward No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 14, 15, 24, 25 and 26  could have been completed much earlier but for some unfortute incidents it got delayed,” revealed the chief Engineer. Among these include the recent earthquake to hit the state which completely destroyed some concrete pipes in Lamphel area, the destruction of pipes along ga river by other departments among others. At present construction of treatment plant (27.00 MLD), five pumping stations, primary sewer line (25.291 Km.) and 62 % of secondary sewer line (27.365 Km. out of 44.138Km.) has been completed, informed the PHED chief.

On the drinking water supply front, the Chief Engineer said that the scerio is looking up with the near completion of the Thoubal Multi purpose Project. 45 Million litres per day (MLD) of raw water will be available for the Chingkheiching Water Treatment Plant, the construction of which has been taken up by the PHED at an estimated cost of Rs 168 crore. Once this plant starts functioning Greater Imphal city will not have any drinking water problem till 2013.

Further, Imphal city has also been selected under “Atal Mission for Rejuvetion and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)”, which will cover the replacement of distribution network only within the Imphal Municipal Council area with an estimated cost of Rs 200.00 crore. It is to be taken up in four phases with project duration of four years.

Another significant achievement of the department has been the successful implementation of the tiol Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP), a Flagship programme of the Government of India which envisages water supply at 40 litre/person/day to at least 90% of the census habitation of the state by 2022. By April 1, 2016, out of 2870 habitations, 2165 habitations have been fully covered (FC), 606 habitations have been partially covered (PC) and 99 habitations have not been covered (NC). The target for the current year is to fully cover 50 habitations.

Besides this, the PHED Department have taken up 46 schemes under NLCPR mostly in the hill districts, out of which 38 have been fully completed  and 6 are on the verge of completion. The department has also been receiving incentive awards for its work of devolution of water supply schemes to the people by creating Village Water Sanitation committees.

The Chief Engineer stressed on the cooperation of the Forest department to preserve water sources. He also sought the cooperation of the general public for making judicious use of water.

The press conference was also attended by L Ibomcha Singh Addl Chief Engineer, L Swamikanta Director, CCDU, PHED and other dignitaries. This was stated in a press release.