Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 09:
Dues of water tax of the various Govt Depts is said to be higher than the private water consumers, said a reliable source of the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED).
The source also added that the 25 Govt Depts owe the PHED Dept approximately Rs 59,30,370 lakhs .
Despite the requirement of 98 Million Litres per day (MLD) by the Imphal and Greater Imphal areas, the source informed that the Dept is able to supply only 65.72 (MLD) 32.28 (MLD) short of the requirement.
The 25 Govt Depts which are yet to clear up their water tax dues are Electricity Dept Rs 92,530, PWD Rs 4,51,697, Education Dept (S) Rs 6,95,740, Education (U) Rs 357752, RIMS Hospital Rs 6,39,148, Veterinary Dept Rs 1,02,857, DC Imphal West Rs157395, Fishery Dept Rs 79510, JN Hospital Rs 936049, GAD Rs 60456, Sports Dept Rs 5,67,336, Agriculture Dept 25500, Forest Dept Rs 40750, Horticultural Dept Rs 16605, DIC Rs 98,255, DIG Manipur Police Rs 5,72,329, DIPR Rs 2,77,030, Arts & Culture Dept Rs 40,205, IFCD Rs 1,01,795, Treasury Dept Rs 9,180, Imphal Municipality Rs 50,160, Tribal Welfare & Social Welfare Dept Rs 25,050, MSRTC Rs 37,170, DC Imphal East Rs 29,007 and State Museum Rs 13,300.The water tax due to the individual water subscriber is said to be about Rs 43 lakhs, said the source.
It may be mentioned that the PHED Dept collected an estimated sum of Rs 69.24 lakhs as water tax during the 2001-02 term.
The Dept aims to collect about Rs 80 lakhs in the 2002-03 term, added the source Answering to a query from The Sangai Express, PHED Minister Govindas Konthoujam said that PHED Dept would be approaching the concerned authorities for making it compulsory for all the Govt employees to get their no due certificate from the Dept before withdrawing their salaries.
Commenting on the shortage of water in the Imphal and greater Imphal areas the Minister expressed that works for upgrading the Canchipur, Chinga, Irilbung, Ningthempukhri and Awang Potsangbam Water Supply Scheme will be taken up very soon to improve the existing conditions.
The Minister also disclosed that new schemes such as Imphal Distribution Network Scheme, Waithou Project, Leimakhong Project, Nambol Sajor Lake Project and Bishnupur Chothe Project would be taken up very soon under the sponsorship of the Central Govt.
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