Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 1
NAGALAND MINISTER for PHE while addressing a Rural Water Conference in New Delhi yesterday asked the Centre to rework the funding pattern for Nagaland in terms of sharing resources for implementation of development projects. Longon pointed out that due to meager resources, a State like Nagaland cannot match the Centre’s allocation. Hence, there is a need to review the funding pattern for states with budgetary constraints. “It is my request that the funding pattern be made 90:10 for such states like Nagaland”, Longon said during the meeting also attended by Dr Raghuvansh Prasad Singhji, Union Minister for Rural Development and other senior officials. The conference was earlier inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Addressing the meeting Longon said that in a large and diverse country like India, State specific problems and constraints will be faced while implementing various programmes.
Hence, there is a need to allow for flexibility in implementation. Adoption of a common yardstick for the entire country can at times be counter productive. “I shall therefore take this opportunity to dwell on some issues relating to Nagaland and it is my earnest request to the Hon`ble Minister for Rural Development to give it due consideration”, he said.
The state Department of Public Health Engineering will be the implementing agency for the drinking water supply component of Bharat Nirman in Nagaland. Bharat Nirman is a time bound action plan for development of rural infrastructure launched recently by the Prime Minister. Under this action plan, each State is to fully cover all habitations with drinking water supply and also address water quality problems.
Longon informed the conference that Nagaland has already drawn up the action plan for covering all habitations by 2009 and assured that a monitoring Cell in the Chief Engineer`s office will be strengthened to effectively supervise and monitor the project in the divisions.
The Nagaland Minister also said that a state wide survey of water status is been undertaken and the results will be available by 31st march 2006. “The survey will provide all relevant data in respect of every habitation in the state so that, in those habitations where there is no source available from rivers and streams, alternatives such as rainwater harvesting and exploitation of ground water can be taken up”, Longon informed.
Longon also drew attention to the problem of iron excess content in the foothills of Dimapur district which has affected 136 rural habitations. He stressed the importance of setting up mini iron removal plants to solve this problem, involving the process of aeration and filtration.
