Chümoukedima, February 21 (MExN): Leaders of Chümoukedima Town have written to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Dimapur calling for a stop to river-bed excavation of Chathe River for the sake of safe and clean water.
Lhousito Khro, President Naga Tribal Union Chümoukedima Town (NTUCT), and Kelenguzo Kuotsu, Head G.B, Chümoukedima Town, wrote a representation to the DC informing that the Chathe River that flows along the national highway is “muddy and dirty now-a-days unlike previous years.”
This, they felt, was the result of the “river-bed excavation of boulders stone by employing heavy excavators and 6 to 10 wheelers triper trucks 24 x 7 beginning Khanakhurü (Jharnapani) area up to the bridge of Sirhima (Kuki) village and beyond.”
“The entire population in and around this place is totally depending on the Chathe River water for all purposes; even our domestic animals depend on this river. In the event of long spell of dry season all other sources of water for our daily need has already dried up. However, due to the activities as mentioned above, the small amount of water now flowing in this particular river which is the only lifeline of several thousands of lives is too dirty which is at the same time poisonous and dangerous for consumption,” the Chümoukedima Town leaders lamented.
In the light of this, they requested the DC, on an SOS basis, to “issue a strong directive to your concerned subordinate officer of the area to immediately take necessary corrective measures before the issue is blown out of proportion.”
