Imphal, February 28: Despite the State Govt's earnest effort to provide safe drinking water to all under the "Water for all by 2012" project launched by the Central Govt, the State has made very little progress in its attempt as there are presently 845 villages in the State which are still denied of safe drinking water, informed Public Health Engineering Dept (PHED) Minister Govindas Konthoujam.

Speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of Accelerated Rural Water Supply Scheme (ARWS) at Wangoo Laikhong and Wapokpi under Kumbi Ac today, Minister Govindas Konthoujam informed that out of the total 2873 villages in the State only 619 villages have been covered by the water supply scheme while 1309 villages have been partially covered.

The two newly constructed ARWS schemes have been constructed with 100% grant from the Central Govt and therefore the state Govt will not be taxing from the public for the two schemes, said Govindas Konthoujam but added that the State Govt would be responsible for maintaining and operating the two schemes for the first year after which the maintenance and operative works will be handed over to NGOs, Zilla parishad and Panchayat.

He also urged the public to take proper care of the two new schemes and handle it as their own properties and further informed that the Govt would provide all possible help in its maintenance and operation.

Informing that electric pumps would be installed at the newly inaugurated ARWS scheme at Wangoo Laikhong within a short period, Govindas appealed to the public as well as the NGOs to ban all unauthorised connections.

In his presidential speech, N Mangi said that the SPF Govt have been able to set up 12 water supply schemes in Kumbi AC and provide safe drinking water to at least some sections of the people of Kumbi area despite the financial problems besetting the State and further said that people should appreciate the work of the SPF Govt.As a part of the programme, Mangi also inaugurated a community hall at Khoijuman Tabi under Kumbi AC and five shed of meira paibi.

The community hall was constructed with Rs 1 lakh donated from the Local Area Development Fund and Rs 30,000 from the Panchayat.

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