Imphal, April 18: Various irregularities found in the construction work for the transmission of raw water from Maphou Dam to Chigkhei Ching in Imphal East district is creating serious threat to the villages, schools and paddy fields in the area, as the concern government department had failed to properly check the technical procedures on the laying of the pipes for carrying water. The project is being executed by the EE-1 THoubal Project Division No. VI (IFCD).
The project for transmission of the raw water from Maphou Dam to ChingkheiChing is being taken up to supply adequate drinking water to residents of great Imphal area as well as its surrounding after getting approval from the Central Water Commission (CWC) in December, 2015. The estimated cost of the project is Rs. 300 crore. The work includes drilling of two tunnels with approximate length of 2 km and the length of the pipeline is 16 Km. The raw water transmitted through this pipe line will be treated at Chingkheiching water treatment plant for distribution to the general public. If once completed 99% of the drinking water crisis in valley area, particularly at greater Imphal area will be solved.
The length of a pipe being fitted underneath the earth is 5.5 meter and is 1 meter in diameter. That means the volume of water to be transmitted is huge and any mistake or leak at any part of the pipeline will cause disaster at that area. The pipes are connected using rubber clip and are place at a minimum depth of 7 fts.
As per the guidelines the floor where the pipe should be laid need to be made concrete, so that the pipes remained undisturbed when the water volume of 1 meter diameter runs through it. When Imphal Times interview some of the villagers as well as some of the technical experts from the department, it is learnt that no concrete flooring was done at the time of placing the pipe. Some said that the depth where the pipes are laid did not reach even 5 ft. which should be at the least 7 ft.
On the other hand, while conducting investigation over the matter, it is also found that there were anomalies to the e-tendering of the works. As per information available, three firms including Coastal Project Ltd. and Suchi Company Ltd. had applied for the tunnel drilling work. Report said that all the tender applied were rejected due to technical error, however, for reason best known to the government authority, the then commissioner of the IFCD approved the two firms mention here to execute the work. The pipe lying works was done by two local special contractors.
Source further said that, as soon as the project cost was sanctioned 2 Scorpio vehicles and 3 Gypsies were procured from the account of the raw water transmission project.
On the other hand, Costal Projects Limited is a Hyderabad-based company and as according to a sources the company was blacklisted by MP government in 2012. No, wonder how the then state government allowed a black listed company to execute such an important project in the state of Manipur.
What is worried is that, besides the villages there are also schools including Mega Manipur School where the pipeline is passing. And until a proper enquiry is conducted, commissioning of the transmission of raw water may ruin the good image of the person running the government.
