By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Opposition on Tuesday raised the issue of frequent water scarcity problem in Tura even as it urged the Government to come up with concrete measures to ensure that there is an uninterrupted water supply in Tura.
Moving a motion on water scarcity problem in Tura during the fourth day of budget session in the Assembly on Tuesday, GNC legislator Clifford R Marak said that there is a hue and cry among the residents of Tura due to irregular water supply.
“The people are facing a major problem since water is an important component of human life,” Marak said while pointing out that the people are handicapped since they require water to cook their food and for various other purposes.
The GNC legislator said that the people faced difficulties last year since they did not get water for a month in a stretch due to the breakdown in the distribution system as the machinery which is supposed to draw water from the main source to the treatment plant has become too old.
Citing an example, he said that even a beautiful woman like Sushmita Sen would become ugly if she does not take bath for a month.
“My wife used to quarrel with me if there is a problem of water scarcity. I understand the desperation of my wife since she is also helpless as she requires water to do her various household works” Marak said.
He urged the Government to allocate special funds for replacing the old machinery with new ones and also for purchasing generators to ensure uninterrupted water supply whenever there is a breakdown in power supply.
Also expressing his concern over the water crisis in Tura, NPP legislator James K Sangma while participating in the motion stressed on the need to re-energize the critical catchments areas as a measures to protect the various water sources in Garo Hills.
“Rampant deforestations which are going along the catchment areas have to be stopped at any cost. The Government has to take serious steps to recharge the critical catchment areas,” Sangma said.
He pointed out that it was rightly said that the third World War would be on water and not on land.
“We have already seen how nations are fighting on the issue of ownership of rivers,” the NPP legislator said while also stressing that the Government needs to address this serious problem at the earliest.
Participating in the motion, independent legislator John Leslee K Sangma said that the Government should have a future plan to meet the growing demands of potable water in the years to come.
“With the growth of population, the demand for potable water would also grow. Unless the Government comes up with a definite plan, it would be very difficult to address the problem of scarcity in the years to come,” he said.
Sangma also expressed concern over the quality of water which are being supplied to the residents of Tura.
“I am not sure whether the water which is being supplied is fit for human consumption. The Government has to take immediate steps to expand the treatment plant of the Tura Water Supply Scheme,” he said.
In reply, PHE Minister Prof RC Laloo said that the Government is also concerned over water scarcity problem in Tura.
While informing that presently, there are three water supply schemes (Tura Phase I, Phase II and Phase III) for Tura town, he said that the Government is augmenting the Tura Phase I and Phase III to improve the supply of water.
“We have sanctioned funds from the 13th Finance Commission. The augmentation work is under progress,” he said.
He also assured that the State Government would take steps in replacing the old machineries with the new ones.
Prof Laloo however said that it would be difficult for him to give an assurance in purchasing of power generators since he has to discuss with his officers on the feasibility of this proposal.
“We cannot afford to have the generators since there are other costs involved to operate the generators,” PHE Minister said.
Reacting to this reply of the PHE Minister, the GNC legislator said that he does not think there should be problems of paucity of funds since the Government can create four new districts at one go.
“The purchase of the power generators would not touch even the expenditure of the creation of a single district” he said.
In addition, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma said that the Government was committed in providing clean potable drinking not only to the people of Tura but to the whole State.
“Through the Integrated Basin Development and Livelihood Programmes, they would also be looking for recharging the catchments areas. We also understand the importance of recharging the catchment areas to protect and preserve and water sources,” Chief Minister said.
He said that the first priority would be providing clean drinking water, then water for irrigation and finally water for power generation.
“I have full faith that under the able hand of new PHE Minister, the problem of water scarcity throughout the State would gradually be resolved,” Dr Sangma added.