A young boy and his father are seen filling their water tanks from a private water reservoir at Mokokchung village. (Morung Photo)
Limasenla Jamir
Mokokchung | February 21
“Water is a basic necessity. If the government cannot provide us with the basics, how can we expect it to provide us with other necessities,” remarked Among Walling, a young father, who buys 2,000-4,000 liters of water a week for his family.
Water scarcity problem in Nagaland, especially in Mokokchung and Kohima, has been a matter of worry for years now.
Every year the acute problem of lack of potable water supply begins from the month of November and continues till April or until the monsoon season sets in.
“This year seems to be the driest of all since it did not rain at all. Our well at home has dried up and for the first time in twenty years, we had to buy drinking water” informed Aienla Aier, a resident of Arkong ward Mokokchung. “Even though we harvest rain water, it lasts for up to a month after which we have to buy water. We have a PHED pipe connection but I don’t remember the last time we had water supply,” said Lanu another resident of Arkong ward.
Every day pick-up trucks loaded with water tanks ply in the town with the most urgency. Moa, a water supplier from Yimyu ward makes about 4 to 10 trips per day. “I have been selling water for the past six years, and each year, the demand only increases. Some of my fellow friends make more than 20 trips per day,” informed Moa.
Nungsang Pongen and his wife sell water for a living. They sell water from their farm which is located about 3 kms away from town. “We source the water from the nearby streams and store them in tanks. On an average, we sell about 40–60 loads of water per day. Due to the increase in demand these past months, I have connected another pipe from the main source,” said Nungsang while talking about his water trade.
While the water business is booming in town, the plight of the public is languishing. “Our maximum monthly expenses are incurred in buying water. The last time we had water supply from the PHED pipeline was in the month of January.
Even if the department supplies water, the quantity is so less that it doesn’t even suffice for drinking purpose,” lamented Asangla Jamir, a resident of Sungkomen ward. “Problem with pipe lines, problem at the water source, there are so many problems that now we have no faith in the department. The department itself is the problem,” added Asangla Jamir.
“The PHED supplies water only when there is plenty of water or when it rains,” joked Atu, another resident of Alongmen ward. “If the department is quick in solving the problems related to water supply and if it brings alternate solution to the water scarcity problem, we wouldn’t be as disappointed in them as we are now,” Atu said.
Water scarcity problem has been addressed by many civil organizations in town. Some have even issued ultimatum to the department but the department has not been successful in solving the issue. “We talk about bad road connectivity, irregular power supply, corruption in the state and the like, but we often neglect the water scarcity problem. Without water we will not survive. The government needs to address this issue at a higher level,” said Nukshi Jamir, a resident of Yimyu ward.
Majority of the populace in Mokokchung town buy drinking water from different sources. A quarter or more have pipe connection and there are more who do not. Irregular water supply has been a problem for many years now.
“The irregular water supply has been a problem for so many years but till now the government has not been able to bring a concrete solution for it. It now seems as though there is no solution to the water problem in Nagaland,” said Lima A Jamir, a concerned citizen of Mokokchung.
