Water is not only an essential element for our survival but also an important vehicle for economic development and its sustenance for a nation. Although water is a renewable resource, its reserve in nature is limited and therefore, we have to plan judiciously for its sustainable development and efficient management so that the growing demands on it are adequately meet.
Nagaland receives very high rainfall and enjoy sub tropical monsoon climate where the average annual rainfall is around 250 cm to 300 cm. we receive rainfall for seven long months i.e. from April to October. The pre monsoon shower starts from the month of April through convectional activities. The south west monsoon rain reaches us from first week of June and it continues till the end of September. Finally, the retreating monsoon rain start from last week of September which continues till the last week of October. Besides, certain meager amount of rainfalls are also brings by the western disturbances during the winter.
However, Nagaland is one among the most water scarce state in India because of inefficient water management, lack of adequate preservation and effort to harvest the “free gift of nature”. It is very human that when something is available abundantly, we don’t think to save it for the rainy days. These days, we don’t feel the pinch of water scarcity because now, it is rainy season. But after few months, when the cool and dry season set in, many of us will realize how essential it is to preserve water resources. The pinch will be felt very deeply especially in the major town like Kohima.
There are easy and affordable ways to preserve water resources in our state. I’m very sure many of us know different techniques to preserve water, because since time immemorial, we practice varieties of methods to conserve water for our daily needs. Nevertheless, I would like to share some important methods for the sustainable preservation and management of water resources.
Rainwater harvesting is the best option for us which can bring marked betterment in the living condition. It is the storing and collection of rainwater that runs off from top of the roofs, open spaces like parks and roads or especially prepared ground. This water can be use for various purposes like drinking (after treatment), household use, and livestock or even for irrigation. Much of the water that we receive through rainfall simply runoff and get wasted. In a state like Nagaland where there is so much of water scarcity problem, it makes immense sense for us to store up this water and put it to good use. Rainwater harvesting is also very important for the recharge of the ground water. It not only replenishes the stored underground water but also improves its quality by effecting dilution of pollutants and other harmful substances.
A major point in favor of rainwater harvesting is that the structure for this can be made from inexpensive, locally available material. It can be made anywhere- individual home, apartments, offices, institutions, towns, villages and by anyone – individual or small communities.
Rainwater harvesting structures can be simple or complex. The main components in a rainwater harvesting system consist of a catchment area from where water is collected- this could be either from the ground like rooftops, parks, playgrounds, pavements, agricultural field etc. The channel or conduit through which water passes from the catchment structure into the storage area could be pipes, rectangular or semi circulars gutters, galvanized iron sheets or even bamboo trunks cut vertically into two or other structures. The storage or the tank can be made from RCC, plastics; galvanized iron or even dried bore wells, tube wells etc can use for collecting water. Besides these, rainwater harvesting structures also requires arrangements to maintain the quality of water. Thus, there have to be arrangement to ensure that the first flush of rainwater which would contain contaminants, is allowed to flow out. Filters made of cloth, charcoal, sand etc are put in place to sift out the pollutants.
The cost for making the structure can be finance through loans or subsidies from the government at a lower rate of interest. The government should act as a facilitator and promoter for this type of small project and funds should be made available through various departments in a transparent manner.
At the community level, apart from the above mentioned technique, structure for ground water augmentation and soil conservation such as contouring, construction of village tanks, check dams, continuous contour trenching, farm bunds, percolation tanks, embankment, etc should be undertaken so that it will enhance the availability of water in the region. Renovation of our traditional community pond should also be initiated. In the meantime, deforestation should be stop and plantation of trees in and around the villages and towns should be promoted. Vegetation plays a vital role in replenishing the aquifers and holding the water table.
We need to learn from our Gandhian social activist Anna Hazare’s native village – Ralegan Siddhi of Admednagar district, Maharashtra, which became a prosperous and a model village due to watershed development. Centrally sponsored schemes such as MGNREGA and Bharat Nirman programmed can be use as a means for the watershed management project which is already been started to implement in some villages in Nagaland.
It is very unfortunate to say that Kohima, “the mirror of Nagaland” faces severe water crisis. This problem can be mitigated to certain extent if we pursue those techniques which have been cited above. Besides, it needs a syndicate effort of individuals, civil societies, Government and the people. There are some perennial streams around Kohima from where potable water can be bring by means of pipeline and supply water to the whole Kohima town. However the government must pay fair compensation at the market rate to the indigenous people in this particular region since water is the lifeline for them for terrace cultivation and for domestic use. In fact, we need to learn the art of terrace farming from our Angami and Chakhesang Naga brothers, as this type of farming is an eco-friendly and most productive farming when we compare it with Jhum or slash and burn cultivation. I would like to encourage all the indigenous land owners of this region to contribute further in the development of economic infrastructure in Kohima by kindly allowing the government to harness the water resources in the region for the welfare of everyone if there are any differences with the govt. Your benevolence gesture which you have been doing for more than a century will always be acknowledged by every Nagas.
Recently, our honorable government has announced pumping of water from Zaru water source for water supply in Kohima. This project should be implemented seriously without any corruption or scam so that it would come into reality by delivering the water supply to every household.
Due to present challenges of climate change, water crisis in many part of the world including Nagaland is inevitable. It is high time for us to tackle these challenges, so that we will rejuvenate and revitalize the water resources to meet our growing demand. To this end, we must ensure that the demand on the environment from which we derive our sustenance does not exceed its carrying capacity for the present as well as future generation.
Nagaland receives very high rainfall and enjoy sub tropical monsoon climate where the average annual rainfall is around 250 cm to 300 cm. we receive rainfall for seven long months i.e. from April to October. The pre monsoon shower starts from the month of April through convectional activities. The south west monsoon rain reaches us from first week of June and it continues till the end of September. Finally, the retreating monsoon rain start from last week of September which continues till the last week of October. Besides, certain meager amount of rainfalls are also brings by the western disturbances during the winter.
However, Nagaland is one among the most water scarce state in India because of inefficient water management, lack of adequate preservation and effort to harvest the “free gift of nature”. It is very human that when something is available abundantly, we don’t think to save it for the rainy days. These days, we don’t feel the pinch of water scarcity because now, it is rainy season. But after few months, when the cool and dry season set in, many of us will realize how essential it is to preserve water resources. The pinch will be felt very deeply especially in the major town like Kohima.
There are easy and affordable ways to preserve water resources in our state. I’m very sure many of us know different techniques to preserve water, because since time immemorial, we practice varieties of methods to conserve water for our daily needs. Nevertheless, I would like to share some important methods for the sustainable preservation and management of water resources.
Rainwater harvesting is the best option for us which can bring marked betterment in the living condition. It is the storing and collection of rainwater that runs off from top of the roofs, open spaces like parks and roads or especially prepared ground. This water can be use for various purposes like drinking (after treatment), household use, and livestock or even for irrigation. Much of the water that we receive through rainfall simply runoff and get wasted. In a state like Nagaland where there is so much of water scarcity problem, it makes immense sense for us to store up this water and put it to good use. Rainwater harvesting is also very important for the recharge of the ground water. It not only replenishes the stored underground water but also improves its quality by effecting dilution of pollutants and other harmful substances.
A major point in favor of rainwater harvesting is that the structure for this can be made from inexpensive, locally available material. It can be made anywhere- individual home, apartments, offices, institutions, towns, villages and by anyone – individual or small communities.
Rainwater harvesting structures can be simple or complex. The main components in a rainwater harvesting system consist of a catchment area from where water is collected- this could be either from the ground like rooftops, parks, playgrounds, pavements, agricultural field etc. The channel or conduit through which water passes from the catchment structure into the storage area could be pipes, rectangular or semi circulars gutters, galvanized iron sheets or even bamboo trunks cut vertically into two or other structures. The storage or the tank can be made from RCC, plastics; galvanized iron or even dried bore wells, tube wells etc can use for collecting water. Besides these, rainwater harvesting structures also requires arrangements to maintain the quality of water. Thus, there have to be arrangement to ensure that the first flush of rainwater which would contain contaminants, is allowed to flow out. Filters made of cloth, charcoal, sand etc are put in place to sift out the pollutants.
The cost for making the structure can be finance through loans or subsidies from the government at a lower rate of interest. The government should act as a facilitator and promoter for this type of small project and funds should be made available through various departments in a transparent manner.
At the community level, apart from the above mentioned technique, structure for ground water augmentation and soil conservation such as contouring, construction of village tanks, check dams, continuous contour trenching, farm bunds, percolation tanks, embankment, etc should be undertaken so that it will enhance the availability of water in the region. Renovation of our traditional community pond should also be initiated. In the meantime, deforestation should be stop and plantation of trees in and around the villages and towns should be promoted. Vegetation plays a vital role in replenishing the aquifers and holding the water table.
We need to learn from our Gandhian social activist Anna Hazare’s native village – Ralegan Siddhi of Admednagar district, Maharashtra, which became a prosperous and a model village due to watershed development. Centrally sponsored schemes such as MGNREGA and Bharat Nirman programmed can be use as a means for the watershed management project which is already been started to implement in some villages in Nagaland.
It is very unfortunate to say that Kohima, “the mirror of Nagaland” faces severe water crisis. This problem can be mitigated to certain extent if we pursue those techniques which have been cited above. Besides, it needs a syndicate effort of individuals, civil societies, Government and the people. There are some perennial streams around Kohima from where potable water can be bring by means of pipeline and supply water to the whole Kohima town. However the government must pay fair compensation at the market rate to the indigenous people in this particular region since water is the lifeline for them for terrace cultivation and for domestic use. In fact, we need to learn the art of terrace farming from our Angami and Chakhesang Naga brothers, as this type of farming is an eco-friendly and most productive farming when we compare it with Jhum or slash and burn cultivation. I would like to encourage all the indigenous land owners of this region to contribute further in the development of economic infrastructure in Kohima by kindly allowing the government to harness the water resources in the region for the welfare of everyone if there are any differences with the govt. Your benevolence gesture which you have been doing for more than a century will always be acknowledged by every Nagas.
Recently, our honorable government has announced pumping of water from Zaru water source for water supply in Kohima. This project should be implemented seriously without any corruption or scam so that it would come into reality by delivering the water supply to every household.
Due to present challenges of climate change, water crisis in many part of the world including Nagaland is inevitable. It is high time for us to tackle these challenges, so that we will rejuvenate and revitalize the water resources to meet our growing demand. To this end, we must ensure that the demand on the environment from which we derive our sustenance does not exceed its carrying capacity for the present as well as future generation.
Nukshi Naga Pongener
Industrial Village, Razuphe,
D.C.Court, Dimapur
