Manipur’s Member of Parliament, Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, has called for transparency and clarity from the Union Government on the status of water body rejuvenation projects in the state’s urban areas under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and AMRUT 2.0 schemes.
In Unstarred Question No. 3111 raised in the Lok Sabha, Dr. Akoijam sought specific details from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on:
The number and location of water bodies rejuvenated under these schemes.
How these efforts have contributed to reducing water stress in urban areas.
The total funds sanctioned and released, with a district-wise breakdown.
The Ministry has issued an official response, providing information on the sanctioned projects and financial allocations for Manipur under both AMRUT phases. The data, Dr. Akoijam noted, is crucial for assessing whether water security measures are effectively addressing urban shortages, particularly in Imphal and other rapidly growing towns.
Concerns Over Omitted Parliamentary Question
Alongside his AMRUT-related inquiry, Dr. Akoijam has also flagged an administrative oversight in the handling of parliamentary questions.
He stated that a question pertaining to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) — which had been successfully balloted in his name at Serial No. 193 for the 6th August 2025 Lok Sabha sitting — was omitted from the final list for that day.
Dr. Akoijam has since written to the concerned authorities seeking clarification on why the question was excluded, despite having cleared the ballot process. The missing question, he said, was intended to highlight urgent concerns regarding the welfare, resettlement, and security of thousands of IDPs in Manipur.
“Parliamentary questions are a key accountability tool. Omission without explanation undermines transparency,” the MP remarked.
Broader Context
Manipur has faced both chronic water scarcity and internal displacement crises in recent years. While AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0 have aimed to improve urban infrastructure and water management, the results on the ground remain uneven, especially in the face of climate variability and population displacement.
Meanwhile, the state continues to house a large number of IDPs in relief camps, with resettlement and rehabilitation being a priority issue for lawmakers and civil society.
Dr. Akoijam’s twin interventions — on urban water security and parliamentary procedure — underscore the intertwined nature of infrastructure, governance, and human welfare in Manipur’s policy debates.
