Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 15
Expressing pain to know that against the requirement of 14 million litres per day the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) could provide only 1.5 million litres per day in Kohima town, PHED Minister Chotisuh Sazo today urged that a great task lies a head of the department to provide sufficient safe drinking water to the public all over Nagaland.
“We may not be able to change overnight. But we have to manage properly what is available with us. I have confidence on our officers and staff that we will be able to do it,” Sazo told the PHED officers and staff during the introductory meeting held here at PHED Directorate Conference Hall.
He said PHED is involved in every day activity of our life be it the food we take, the drinks and beverage we drink or washing ourselves, our clothes, our dishes, our cars and everything else around us.
He said the department has become a full fledged department in 1974 and thereafter is responsible for providing safe and portable drinking water supply, safe disposal of solid and liquid waste and environmental hygiene.
He said the department is visible in almost all villages/towns of Nagaland and the impact it is making on the lives of the people is truly praise worthy.
Stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi professes to make India a defecation free country, he said the PHED along with other allied departments has to been entrusted to carry out the work in Nagaland.
“We must take this responsibility ‘toilet for all’ with utmost seriousness whereby our Naga people would benefit from this goal. Construction of toilet alone is not enough, but we have to change the mind-set of our people to live a hygienic life,” he said.
He informed that the PHED has earned laurels from the Chief Secretary and the government for its efficient staff managements.
Stressing on the need to improve the functioning of our government offices and government officers as well, he said, “Beautiful office chambers do not imply that the functioning of the office is good. The improvement of the functioning of the office will depend on the improvement of the mind-set of our public servants working in that office. We have to change our attitudes and behavior towards the common people.”
Also stating that there are many schemes of the government, he said the speedy and effective implementation depends on the officers and staff. Strict compliance for implementation of the schemes has to be enforced.
Stating that RTI has become an important tool for the public to get information, the minister stated that any information sought by the public should be responded swiftly and in a timely manner.
Maintaining that discipline is a must for smooth functioning of the department, he requested all the officers and staff to maintain discipline in discharging their duties.
“Government servants must be punctual, sincere and loyal to his duties. There are many government servants who have private businesses and hence their loyalty to their duty is at doubt at times. But there are many government servants who go out of their way to help the common man. People respect them and salute them. If we wish to bring about a speedy development of our society then there is need for sincere, upright and selfless government and public servants which I understand is available in abundant measures in the department,” Sazo said.
The function was chaired by Maongwati Aier, IAS, secretary to Government of Nagaland, PHED. PHED chief engineer Er. Kevisekho Kruse and WSSO (PHED) director Er. K. Ghushito Sumi highlighted the activities of PHED and Swachh Bharat Mission respectively. Vote of thanks was proposed by Er. Yhusinlo Tep, additional chief engineer PHED. The function was followed by technical session.
