Imphal, November 22 2009: After functioning for some time following inaugural 28 years back, the Water Supply Scheme at Lairenjam has been lying defunct all these years.

Construction of the water supply scheme had been taken up with the local people donating a plot of 9.17 acre of agricultural land.

For around one year of its inaugural, the scheme used to supply water to the people.

However, after remaining defunct for so many years, even the pipelines have got rusted today.

Organised by Lairenjam Soraren Seva Committee, an apex body of the village, a media team today went to inspect the condition of the water supply scheme and found the pond which is the water source and the treatment plant overgrown with bushes.

Secretary of the Seva Committee P Inaobi informed that the scheme had been taken up with the objective of supplying water to the people of Lairenjam Khunjao, Lairenjam Sabal, Mekola Keithel and some parts of Kodompokpi.

For around one year of its inaugural, the scheme was made operational from time to time with the help of solar panel, diesel pumpset or electricity.

But the service was never to the satisfaction of the people.

The rusted water pipeline of the scheme is still there but the overhead steel water storage tank had been reportedly removed and taken away by the staff of the Department concerned.

The gate of the complex to the water supply scheme was also found broken.

Though the treatment tanks have been white washed, it was more like some minor contract works carried out to facilitate withdrawal of bill.

It is said that at present, there are only one SO and one pump operator who also performed the job of the chowkidar at the water supply scheme.

Inaobi further informed that being an asset of the Government, the Committee could not interfere in the maintenance of the water supply scheme.

Even then the Committee has decided to collect taxes from the people and give it to the Department.

But this would be possible only when there is water supply, the Committee secretary said, while drawing the attention of the officials concerned of PHED.

On the other hand, the construction of the road connecting Tiddim Road with Chingphu via Lairenjam under PMGSY has been left abandoned after the WBM stage.

Interestingly, WBM had been laid after scrapping of the earlier black-topped portion.

As no diversion had not been provided after digging up at a portion of the road for the purpose of constructing a culvert, it has caused a lot of difficulty among the people of the area in this harvesting season.

Inaobi also drew the attention of the officials of the Department concerned to look into the matter.

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