IMPHAL: Six politcal parties in Manipur have decided to exert concerted effort while pressing the government to address the water scarcity problem in the state.
The BJP, the NCP, the JD-U, the RSP, the MPP and the AAP will apprise the Manipur Governor on April 29 on the issue by submitting a joint memorandum.
The six politcal parties after the deliberation today have resolved to submit the memorandum to the Governor for immediate supply of drinking water ro the general public without further delay by the state government in the interest of the public. They also urged the concerned department of the state government to look into the epidemic of the domestic animals due to the scarcity of water in the state.
One resolution the six parties took has been that the state government should frame a long term state water policy of Manipur under the frame-work of the National Water Policy of 2002 and 2012.. They also said a special emphasis on rain water harvesting, and rain water conservation plan, river conservation plan and water budgeting should be madeby the state government.
The parties also advocated for the control of jhum cultivation and deforestation in the hill areas of Manipur and restoration or construction of water body. They then suggested that for the massive plantation in the hill areas in co-ordination with all related departments in the state. The six political parties then considered the state Irrigation and Flood Control Department (IFCD) as outdated and hence they suggested for the upgradation of the said department as 'State Department of Water Resources' under the mandate of the Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India.
Meanwhile, BJP, Manipur unit president Th Chaoba asked the state government to immediately avail the drinking water to the people saying "whether water is available in the Singda Dam or not the state government should supply the water at any cost by any means". The BJP leader said the patience of the public is being tested and likely to burst out soon. He warned of resorting to strong agitation if drinking water is not made available to the public at the earliest.
