Morung Express News
February 7
KOHIMA: The Khonoma Water Supply Committee said that the state government has acted in defiance to its goodwill and has intruded its territory in a bid to tap water for augmentation of water supply to Kohima from Dzupfu River of Khonoma village.
In a release, the Committee chairman, Peteroko Zetsuvi and secretary Dolhunyu Chasie said that a series of meetings has been held in this regard. But in spite of all these, the Government of Nagaland has defied the goodwill of Khonoma village and has betrayed their trust by signing a MoU with Poilwa village on November 24, which recognizes the water intake as lying in Tepuiki River within the jurisdiction of Poilwa village under Peren district.
It is most unfortunate that the government of Nagaland has nullified all the negotiations between Khonoma village and government with a stroke of a pen, said the release while cautioning that they have no alternative but to seek justice at any cost to redress its grievances. It also stated that they will not part with its water and shall not allow intrusion by anyone unless justice is first delivered and the state Government rectifies its misdeed.
The release said that after three meetings with the Minister for Planning and another three meetings at the residence of the chief minister, the Khonoma delegates had made their points very clear that the proposed water source at Dzupfu River belongs to Khonoma village and the issue can not be compromise at any cost; that the name of the said project be Dzupfu water project as the river lies under Khnoma Jurisdiction; that to sign MoU between the state government and the Khonoma village and in order to facilitate the government the government of Nagaland to proceed with the official works, the Khonoma water supply Committee has also submitted Ownership Certificate of the Dzupfu water and no objection to the government in good faith on September 8, 2005.
“For the purpose of augmentation of water supply to the state capital, Kohima, a team led by the Minister for Planning, Dr Shurhozelie approached Khonoma village and sought permission from the village to tap water from Dzupfu River, and they reciprocated to the mission with goodwill as they were aware of the scarcity of water in the state capital, and willing to donate its water in the larger interest of humanity as the whole and the people of Nagaland in particular”, said the release.
