550 villages to receive water supply by 2021: Nagaland minister

Kohima: Under the Central government’s Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) initiative, 50 villages from each district of Nagaland, totaling to 550 villages, will have access to adequate drinking water supply within a year. State public health engineering department (PHED) minister Jacob Zhimomi made this announcement during the department’s review and coordination meeting held at its conference hall in Kohima on Thursday.

The department of drinking water and sanitation, under the Union ministry of jal shakti, introduced the mission to provide functional household tap connection (FHTC) to every rural household in the country by 2024, with a minimum water supply level of 55 litres per person per day.

Urging the need for its engineers to proactively serve the public, Zhimomi said that the officers must execute their responsibilities with utmost honesty and sincerity. He also suggested that the data regarding the physical progress and utilisation of fund sanctioned by the ministry be uploaded in the ministry’s website, to avoid any untoward consequences that the department may face.

Also Read: Nagaland Lokayukta orders preliminary probe against Dy CM Y Patton

Expressing his disappointment on the incomplete projects, he urged all respective EEs to submit the status of all incomplete water supply projects or defective projects being executed under the NEC/DONER/NLCPR within 15 days. Highlighting that the changes in schemes, unavailability of guidelines, lack of resources and other challenges has slowed the work progress of the department, he alarmed that it is time for all employees to work collectively and efficiently in the current financial year.

Interacting with the media on the sidelines of the meeting, Zhimomi said that with the financial year, the department will be increasing its pace of work to ensure that no progress is disrupted, especially during the monsoon season.

He also assured that the Zarü stream project which will supply water to Kohima town, will be completed by March this year. With the commissioning of this project, he said that 3.8 million litres of water will be supplied daily to the state capital. He also pointed that even with this supply, Kohima town will fall short by 8.5 million litres.

In regard to the supply scheme for 24 villages under Chiephobozou RD Block, Zhimomi said that 19 villages have been covered leading to 80% work completion. He cited that technical challenges and land owner negotiations has delayed the work progress for the remaining villages.

Meanwhile, PHED principal secretary, MK Mero highlighted the need to increase work-charge employees for the implementation of various projects as the department currently has around 700 such employees. Mero informed that the materials for the first phase of JJM which will target 109 villages in the state has arrived and that it will be distributed to various districts by next week.