Kohima, May 21 (The Telegraph): Water water everywhere, but not a drop to drink. Upholding the gravity of the adage and faced with a situation where landowners in Kohima are not allowing tapping of water, the Nagaland government today said it would relocate the state capital for want of adequate water supply.
Addressing the general session of the Angami Public Organisation on Friday, chief minister Neiphiu Rio said the government would contemplate shifting the capital if the scarcity of water supply could not be mitigated soon. He said there was enough water in and around Kohima but the landowners were not willing to let the government tap it “We will have no option but to relocate the state capital then,” Rio said. He said successive state governments had failed to convince the landowners to let the government tap water.
The Opposition Congress also expressed serious concern over the scarcity of water in the fast-expanding state capital and urged the chief minister and urban development minister Shurhozelie Liezietsu, who are from the Angami community, to convince the landowners.
Minister of public health engineering department Ngangshi K. Ao said the augmentation of water supply to Kohima town had been sanctioned by the Centre at an estimated cost of Rs 32.35crore during 2004-2005. The project was designed to bring 10 million litres of water per day from Dzukou/Tepuiki stream by gravity through 250mm diameter galvanised mild steel pipes for about 50km.
Rio also called on the Angamis to come out of their comfort zone and lead the Naga people to all-round development, particularly in the economic aspect for self-sufficiency. He said the Nagas were looking up to them for leadership, be it in politics or in social and economic affairs. Rio also lamented that there were several Naga leaders today who were mostly working for their “own vested interests, ignoring core Naga issues”. He said such leaders headed mere factions and groups and would “never become Naga leaders”.
Rio also said for an acceptable and honourable solution to the Naga imbroglio, everybody’s contribution was needed. Former president of Nagaland PCC and sitting MLA K.V. Pusa also spoke at the session. He stressed the need for everybody’s participation to usher in permanent peace and unity among Naga people. Hundreds of Angami elders, public leaders, officers, village leaders, student leaders and women representatives attended the session and vowed to work towards peace and unity of Nagas.
Addressing the general session of the Angami Public Organisation on Friday, chief minister Neiphiu Rio said the government would contemplate shifting the capital if the scarcity of water supply could not be mitigated soon. He said there was enough water in and around Kohima but the landowners were not willing to let the government tap it “We will have no option but to relocate the state capital then,” Rio said. He said successive state governments had failed to convince the landowners to let the government tap water.
The Opposition Congress also expressed serious concern over the scarcity of water in the fast-expanding state capital and urged the chief minister and urban development minister Shurhozelie Liezietsu, who are from the Angami community, to convince the landowners.
Minister of public health engineering department Ngangshi K. Ao said the augmentation of water supply to Kohima town had been sanctioned by the Centre at an estimated cost of Rs 32.35crore during 2004-2005. The project was designed to bring 10 million litres of water per day from Dzukou/Tepuiki stream by gravity through 250mm diameter galvanised mild steel pipes for about 50km.
Rio also called on the Angamis to come out of their comfort zone and lead the Naga people to all-round development, particularly in the economic aspect for self-sufficiency. He said the Nagas were looking up to them for leadership, be it in politics or in social and economic affairs. Rio also lamented that there were several Naga leaders today who were mostly working for their “own vested interests, ignoring core Naga issues”. He said such leaders headed mere factions and groups and would “never become Naga leaders”.
Rio also said for an acceptable and honourable solution to the Naga imbroglio, everybody’s contribution was needed. Former president of Nagaland PCC and sitting MLA K.V. Pusa also spoke at the session. He stressed the need for everybody’s participation to usher in permanent peace and unity among Naga people. Hundreds of Angami elders, public leaders, officers, village leaders, student leaders and women representatives attended the session and vowed to work towards peace and unity of Nagas.
