Congress slams Government on water scarcity issue

Aizawl, May 04 (UNI) The vigilance cell of the Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has censured the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) government over the present water supply scarcity issue.

Talking to the media persons at Congress Bhavan here, the MPCC vigilance cell led by MLA Lalrinliana Sailo said that drinking water scarcity hits people in the state very hard and alleged that the state government is being indiffirent to the issue.

He charged that certain people smuggled water from the main Public Health Engineering Department water reservoir at Tuikhuathlang for private use and also for selling to the people.

Mr Sailo also added that an investigation team from his party caught several government vehicles were trying to draw water from the main reservoir, which was used to sell the water to water-starved people in the city.

''One police department vehicle drew the water from the main tank yesterday and the driver claimed that the PHE minister Tawnluia sent him to fetch for use in he construction of his building at Zemabawk'', he alleged.

The Congress MLA said the greater Aizawl water supply scheme phase II, which was started from 2000 is far from completion. The initial fund sanctioned by the Centre is about Rs 32.40 crores, which was revised to 71.80 crores and once again revised to Rs 99.32 crores.

The project was initially designed to provide 30.4 million litres daily but it was later cut to 11.1 million liters, he said adding ''even the water supply scheme was implemented would not be able to cater needs for the people''.

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