Imphal, July 7, 2026: The Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Manipur, on Tuesday relaunched its Meet the Press programme, with the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) presenting the first departmental briefing on its ongoing projects, achievements and future plans in the water supply and sanitation sectors.
The programme aims to promote transparency, strengthen public awareness and support good governance by ensuring timely dissemination of authentic information to the public.
Representing PHED at the briefing were Dorendra Rajkumar, Additional Chief Engineer; Th. Bebina Devi, Superintending Engineer; L. Irish Singh, Superintending Engineer; and Th. Pika Singh, Executive Engineer.
Giving an overview of the department’s activities, PHED officials said the department is responsible for planning, investigation and execution of urban and rural water supply schemes, sewerage projects and implementation of Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) across the state.
In the urban sector, the department informed that 12 water treatment plants at 14 different locations are currently supplying drinking water to Greater Imphal. These include Kangchup, Singda, Chinga, Kangla, Khuman Lampak, Porompat, Koirengei, Canchipur, Ningthem Pukhri, Irilbung, Old Thumbuthong, Moirangkhom, Singjamei Ward No. 17 and Chingkheiching.
The 45 MLD Chingkheiching Water Treatment Plant, which draws raw water from Thoubal Dam, is presently supplying treated water up to Ghari in Imphal West.
PHED officials further stated that smart water meters, an online billing portal and a SCADA-based monitoring system have been introduced to improve operational efficiency, monitor water distribution in real time and enhance consumer services. Following the introduction of online billing, revenue collection has reportedly increased by nearly 40 to 50 per cent.
The department also informed that old cast iron distribution pipelines are being replaced with ductile iron pipes under various schemes. Several overhead reservoirs and storage tanks have also been constructed under externally aided projects to improve storage and distribution capacity.
On rural water supply, PHED said the state is implementing projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the Asian Development Bank-funded External Aided Project and other centrally funded schemes. Jal Jeevan Mission currently covers around 38 per cent of rural households, while the External Aided Project is expected to benefit nearly 2.6 lakh households, accounting for about 58 per cent of rural coverage. The remaining households are being covered under other funding programmes.
Officials said reaffirmation of household tap connections under Jal Jeevan Mission is currently underway. The state is targeting completion of Jal Jeevan Mission works by March 2028, while works under the External Aided Project are expected to be completed by March 2027.
Highlighting sanitation initiatives, PHED informed that Sewerage Project Phase-I has been completed in Thangmeiband, Lamphel and Uripok, while Phase-II is presently under execution.
Under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase-II, the department continues to focus on sustaining Open Defecation Free status and strengthening solid and liquid waste management through convergence with Finance Commission grants and MGNREGS.
The department reaffirmed its commitment to improving access to safe drinking water, strengthening sanitation infrastructure and ensuring better public service delivery across both urban and rural areas of Manipur.
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