Kohima, February 1 (MExN): The Nagaland government has requested the Jotsoma Youth Organization (JYO) to withdraw its ultimatum regarding the stoppage of water supply from the Dzüna and Kelorü streams to Kohima town.
As per its ultimatum to the issued on December 18, 2020, the JYO had cited the State government’s failure to honor its 45 year old agreement, and threatened to stop the tapping of water from the said streams after the stipulated time.
While the JYO’s deadline expired on January 31, the State Chief Secretary J Alam informed that a meeting was held with the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), School Education Department and Jotsoma Village representatives at the Chief Minister’s (CM) residential office in Kohima on February 1. It was convened by the CM’s office and chaired by the CM.
In the meeting, the grievances of the village related to non fulfillment of the agreement of 1976 and the understanding reached at several other previous occasions were discussed.
As per the village representatives, the demands were that 18 people should be given employment as per the agreement and the current 13 persons employed from the village should not be counted against this agreement.
The school should be renovated/expanded by providing necessary infrastructure along with construction of full sized play ground. They also demanded supply of treated water.
After detailed deliberations, the government put up two options for the Jotsoma Village to choose from.
The first was the creation of 12 Grade IV posts and provision of 12 regular jobs to the village by the government along with a revenue sharing arrangement with the department with respect to water tax.
The second option was that, if desired by the Village, as per the old agreement, 18 posts of work-charged employees would be provided.
Regarding the schools, the government maintained that the Government High School (GHS) and Higher Secondary School have already been upgraded while the work order for GHS Jotsoma has already been issued.
The works of Construction of building for GHSS will be undertaken at the earliest; it assured and added that the Hostel would be constructed in the Works Programme of 2021-22.
Regarding construction of a full sized playground in the village, the CM informed the village authorities to earmark a suitable location and execute the project themselves.
He further added that the government would provide an amount of Rs 1 crore for the project, even before official formalities are finalized, out of which Rs 25 lakh would be provided immediately, so that work could begin at the earliest.
Out of the total earmarked amount, Rs 25 lakh should be set aside for construction of rostrum and Rs 75 lakhs for excavation and preparation of the ground, he added.
The PHE department was also directed to provide treated water supply to the village and ensure quality control in the construction of works.
Meanwhile, the CM suggested that a fresh agreement could be formulated reflecting the changed contemporary environment as it has been over 45 years since the agreement was signed.
The Jotsoma Village representatives were also told to deliberate the offer of the government at the village level and inform the government as and when a decision is arrived at.
The CM also directed that regular review meetings between the concerned departments and the village representatives be held quarterly to assess progress of works and a copy of the meeting minutes should be submitted to the CM office.
In view of the positive decisions taken in the meeting, the Jotsoma village authorities were requested to withdraw the ultimatum to stop water supply to Kohima town.
