Protestors say work is incomplete and supply has not been provided to all villages
Our Correspondent
Zhadima | July 30
Zhadima village with the support of several neighbouring villages today obstructed the commissioning of a water supply project for Chiephobozou RD Block and surrounding villages, which was set to be commissioned today at Balancing Reservoir Site, Zhadima under Kohima district.
The villagers blocked the road leading to the reservoir site and prevented PHED Minister, Jacob Zhimomi from inaugurating the project who came along with Zhaleo Rio, Advisor, Sericulture & Excise and Minority Affairs; and Dr Longriniken, Advisor Treasuries and Accounts and National Highways.
Vizosielie Khoube, Youth President of Zhadima village told the media persons that the villagers were agitating due to incompletion of the works, stating that while the department is commissioning the water reservoir, supply has not been provided to all villages.
Under the said project, 24 villages under Chiephobozou RD block were to be connected with pipeline water supply. However, adequate and sufficient construction of sub water reservoirs have not been constructed; nor were distribution pipelines fitted to the units, according to villagers.
In the case of Zhadima village, three small water reservoirs with a volume capacity of 1950 litres were fitted with just a single tap each and no other distributing pipelines. The villagers argue that this would not suffice for the village which has 875 households.
Prior to the agitation, the Zhadima village submitted a representation to the department expressing its grievances with the hope of a consultation on the ongoing project. However, according to the villagers, the department did not pay heed to the plea of the people, nor did it express its status of works to the people.
The PHED Minister had earlier asked the villagers to allow inauguration of the project, assuring that by December 2019 the department would meet all requirements. This was not agreed to, with protestors insisting that the project be commissioned only after water reaches all the 24 villages.
“Our stand is that unless the water reaches the 24 villages we will not let the department inaugurate this project,” Zhadima Village VDB Secretary, Roko Angami told the media persons. “We will file RTI in the name of the village with the department,” he added.
He further questioned why the department planned to go ahead with the inauguration today if they were facing technical problems.
Department to conduct review meeting: Jacob
Meanwhile, PHED Minister, Jacob Zhimomi informed that due to several technical factors, the department could only cover around 10 villages in the first stage of the project. “The next 14 villages will take some more time because it all has financial complications,” he said and urged all the villages to bear with the government.
“So primarily, our first target is to cover the 10 villages. That was our intention today; that is why we had come to Zhadima to commission the project,” the Minister said.
He added that the department would hold a review meeting and take “necessary steps to see that justice is delivered.” He assured that the government will explore possibilities “where we can fund this project so that the desires and needs of the people are fulfilled.”
Dr. Moangwati Aier, Principal Secretary, PHED in a press note informed that the project was sanctioned in 2011 funded by DONER for Rs 26. 2 Crore. The original plan was to supply water from Dzulakie river using gravity but this was found unfeasible. The department then changed the source to the Zhadima river, from which water was to be pumped to 10 villages in the 1st stage.
Aier said that the remaining villages would be covered through deep tube wells, adding that proposal for additional requirements have been taken up with Jal Shakti Ministry.
“Presently 10 villages will get sufficient Drinking Water from the four reservoirs which is completed along with the pumps and the remaining villages will get water supply through deep tube wells since the altitude of the other villages is much higher than the reservoir tank at Zhadima Village,” he stated.
Aier further informed that land compensation has been paid to landowners in Zhadima and that the government has approved appointment of four grade IV staffs and two pump operators under the said project.
The Principal Secretary also informed that pipe connection to all the households is not covered under the scheme. However the reservoir tanks and connection are made in the respective khels / colonies etc of the covered villages for supply of drinking water.
