The much-awaited drinking water project in Tamenglong district is nearing completion. Faced with water problem year after year, people in Tamenglong are hoping for quality construction and early completion of the project. Will the long due project be a success or will it miss the dateline?
Tamenglong drinking water project has two locations, including the lower portion of water treatment plant and impounding reservoir, and dam at Hangoipat in carpentry area which is planned to supply water to the lower area of Tamenglong.
The second portion is at Joulen in Gadai Hills which includes dam, impounding water reservoir, water treatment plant, and approach road which is planned to supply water to the main town areas.
The Tamenglong drinking water project is likely to be inaugurated by the chief minister in the next month when he visits the district.
Speaking exclusively to Imphal Free Press at the dam site of Hangoipat, engineer in-charge of Key Stone Infra Limited, Mahesh Babu said that the company is trying its level best to complete the project and inaugurate it next month, that is January 2021. He said that the dam is ready, and water treatment and filter plan will be ready in the next three days, while pipes fitting are in progress and the painting wall is ready.
Mahesh Babu continued that the pumping house and water reservoir of five lakh litres will be ready by next week. He further disclosed that water pumps are on the way and will arrive in two or three days. At least 43 water tanks have been constructed at different locations for the general public, the engineer added.
At Joulen Gadai Hills, Mahesh Babu said that the dam is ready and wall construction is completed. The Water treatment plant and other minor works are left, however, it will be ready by next month for the inauguration. The whole project is going to finish on the targeted stipulated time-bound, he said while expressing regret at the little delay caused by COVID-19 pandemic and rainy season.
When contacted, the concerned department, executive engineer of PHED Tamenglong, Gaijinlung Thaimei informed that the lower portion of the water treatment plant and impounding reservoir and dam at Hangoipat in Carpentry area is in the final stage and will be completed by January 2021.
The upper portion at Joulen in Gadai hill is in good progress and will complete within three or four months. The works will include the construction of the dam, impounding water reservoir, water treatment plant and approach road, he added.
He also stated that about 80 per cent of the Zonal reservoir has been constructed in different areas in the town and the total number of Zonal reservoirs to be constructed is 43. The executive engineer further said that the project is totally based on water conservation and is the only option for Tamenglong town since it has no river or big water sources.
“Water catchment areas such as forests are needed to be preserved for the project. There is a 34-hectares-area of forest given to PHED by the district administration for catchment areas. It is absolutely essential that these areas remain undisturbed by all means,” Gaijinlung said.
Meanwhile, chairman of Khoupilong Village Authority, Agui Kamei appealed to the authority concerned to maintain quality and complete the work at the earliest.
