Day: August 4, 2012

Akoijam Tompok
Imphal, Aug 4 : Absence of garbage pit at the Singjamei bazar has led to scattering of left overs and
waste product everywhere from roadside vegetables vendors and local residents of the area.
Singjamei is a densely populated area, located near national highway 39 and falls under the
Imphal Municipal Council. Hao keithel and Makha keithel are popular one, besides there are many electronic shops, hotels and roadside vendors. All the waste material is thrown at the side of the road. The worse site is the foot of the Singjamei Bridge, where local residents throw their household garbage. Exposure to rain and sun for long time quicken the process of the waste materials to rot.
Stinky smell fills the air. It’s unbearable, whoever passing the area say ‘the smell is so bad’. Delay in removal of the waste materials by Imphal Municipal Council has made the matter worse.
Earlier there were two big dust bin installed by the Imphal Municipal Council, one at Singjamei parking and another at the market place, but four-five months back these dustbins were taken away for disposal of the waste and never seen again said, Rajendro Thongam from the area.
Lack of awareness of waste disposal among the locals and the shopkeepers is seen low. Without a proper place to dispose off the waste, they throw it at the road side and at the side of the bridge. There is a threat of water contamination and health hazards as rain carried the waste to the river.
In fact, the root cause of the problem of is government’s unplanned and short vision on public health and cleanliness. It is crucial for the public to approach the authorities and sort a way to make Singjamei bazaar a better place.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/singjamei-bazaar-with-no-garbage-pit-is-at-peril/

Mubasir Raji
Imphal, Aug 4 :
The persistent potable water problem in the rural areas of Imphal East district within the radius of four kilometres of Imphal city is a disturbing phenomenon. There is no adequate water supply system in place, to cater to the need of the residents.
Imphal east is one of the most densely populated districts of Manipur, after Irnphal west district.
The water supply pipelines are not working properly. No wonder at some places the tubes used for carrying water has already been taken out and sold away to junk dealers. Residents of Khetrigao said, “water never comes through those pipes”.
Imphal east is abounding with rivers but most of these rivers are polluted by human refuses. The dumping of plastic waste is a major source of water pollution problem. Also during the rainy seasons, river water cannot be used.
These rivers are a great source of water. The water from rivers can be tapped for onward supply to the rural people. 27 years old Loken from Thambalkhong suggested “ water from iril and kongba river cab be drawn up by pumps and after treatment it can be supplied to the people”.
The iril river water is clean and its water mass is also larger than the other rivers running in the district.
If there is an arrangement for storing the river water, water can easily be supplied to the people throughout the year.
Ibohal suggests that privatisation of water supply will solve problem of drinking water scarcity.
Sohail Khan an automobile engineer from Keikhu Awang Leikai said, ‘it is a matter of shame that Kshetrigao which is as only three kilometres away from imphal city is not getting adequate drinking water. Manipur has gained backward status as attention is not paid in improving rural drinking water supply scheme’.
Enaoton a thirty-two from Kongba Khunou said, ‘In Manipur, failure is habit, and malfunction and corruption are natural’. People lost faith in the establishment is not that much great.
‘Government has to show some bold action oriented plans, to regain the trust of the people. People are fed up of mere lip-service, which never get converted into action.’ Imocouba of Naharup awang Leikai said.
Water storage arrangement cum water supply centre should be constructed. Rain and river water can be stored for further use.
At present water supply facilities through pipelines by government of Manipur undertaking, leaves to be desired, according to the residents the rural areas of Imphal east district.
People manage to get their water from mobile water tanks but it is costly and cannot be afforded by poor people. Water from such sources cost in normal time as much as Rs. 500 per thousand litre tanks.
The number of public and private ponds is also decreasing because of encroachmentby local people .
As the population increases, the residential places are becoming overcrowded and every ‘individual household can’t afford to have private ponds and wells. It is high time that the situation is monitored in a systematic way, the public themselves and the government establishment should try to understand the situation properly.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/acute-potable-water-problem-in-places-as-near-as-4-km-away-from-imphal-city/