Water scarcity hits Manipur amid COVID-19 lockdown

Newmai News Network

IMPHAL | April 17

 

Shortage of drinking water has added another woe to the people of Manipur who are hit hard by the lockdown/curfew being imposed to fight spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

 

People both in the hill and the valley are immensely suffering due to the shortage of drinking water.

 

With regard to the valley areas, people have started facing drinking water shortage as most of the government’s water supply facilities have stopped functioning since the rivers, which are the only sources of water, have gone near dry or receded to the extreme.

 

The drying up of the rivers have also forced to shut down almost all the privately operating water treatment plants that sale drinking water through private water tankers.

 

Even though numerous private tankers who have been selling drinking water at much raised prices owing to non-availability of vehicle fuel, they are also in the position of suspending their business now.

 

Major rivers that pass through the Imphal valley- the Imphal River and the Iril River- have receded to ankle-deep while smaller rivers like the Nambul and Kongba have gone dry.

 

There has not been rain for months in Manipur and similar situation is expected during the current month, April.

 

An official source said that against the normal rainfall of 38.4 mm, the state received only 13.4mm in February. In March too, only 12.4 mm received against the normal 75.4 mm.

 

Weather watchers predicted similar situation in the current month but better rainfall from the first week of May.

 

The people in the valley areas, who mainly depend on private water tankers, are facing difficulties during the COVID-19 lockdown as the private water tankers began to halt operation.