Sewerage Project caught in deadlock
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 18 2008: With the completion date deferred on more than one occasions due to several factors, the grand Imphal Sewerage Project has failed to make any headway.

Moreover, inability to fix the exact area where the pipes should laid has literally suspended the project work in front of Raj Bhavan.

According to a reliable source, pipe laying work of the Sewerage Project from Nityapat Chuthek to Treasury Office alongside the road in front of the Raj Bhavan cannot be initiated till date due to several reasons even as work order for the same was issued about a year back.

Generally pipes for the Sewerage Project are laid by the sides of roads.

Accordingly, pipes were laid alongside the road from Treasury Office to Johnstone School.

But to the southern side, from Treasury Office to Nityapat Chuthek, the pipe laying work has been put on hold due to several impeding reasons such as narrower road which would cause severe traffic problem when the road side is dug up.

A view of the roadside on the eastern side of the Raj Bhavan wall along which pipes for the sewerage project are to be laid

Moreover, the Forest Department and the State Government have been staying away from granting permission to cut down trees that grow by the side of this road stretch. In case, the pipes are to be laid just by the side of the foot-path, it would be inevitable to cut down the trees.

But this was dissuaded after a serious problem resulted from cutting some trees earlier.

Since then, the Forest Department has refused permission to cut down more trees.

Moreover, the Public Health Engineering Department is also unable to strike an understanding with the Forest Department in this regard.

On the other hand, should the pipes be laid a little farther at the vacant area, it would entail digging up large water supply pipes.

Again, if the pipes are laid just next to Raj Bhavan compound wall, it would mean dismantling the wall.

As such the Sewerage Project has been caught in a deadlock situation at this portion.

Though unofficial, a highly reliable source informed that it is being considered to lay the sewerage pipes just beside the Raj Bhavan compound wall after shifting the wall a little inward.

However, shifting of the Raj Bhavan wall would necessitate a decision at the Chief Minister's level.

Discussions in this regard has also been initiated though no definite decision has been adopted as yet.

As the Imphal Sewerage Project is targeted for completion within next year and scheduled to be commissioned in 2010, it is expected that the State Government would adopt a resolution in this regard shortly.

Earlier, it was studied to lay the sewerage pipes within Kangla but the plan was aborted as it would affect the sacred, heritage site of Kangla.

Meanwhile, an official source informed that with rainy season over, pipe laying works near Raj Bhavan, Keishampat road, RIMS road and Watham Leirak would be resumed soon.

Completing the project within next year, it would be commissioned on trial basis in the early part of 2010 .

Any defect or flaw detected during the trial would be repaired and corrected at the same time, it said. Till date, pipe laying work for the Project's treatment plant has been completed by 77 percent, pipeline work completed by 60 percent and construction of main holes has been completed by 55 percent, added the source.