Water scarcity woes magnify in Kohima

A private water carrier seen at a colony in Kohima. (Morung Photo)
 

Morung Express News
Kohima | April 12

Once again the problem of water scarcity looms large over the capital of Nagaland. 

With limited water provisions from the government agencies, many residents in Kohima are left to forage meagre amounts of water from community wells and springs, which are drying up at a quick rate in the current season. 

The situation is even more dire with the added challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown has brought.

"The water we receive from the PHED is very less. With three households sharing one pipeline, we end up receiving only one bucket of water thrice a week," says Marina, a resident at D Block colony. Marina and her family resorts to purchasing water from private supplier which costs Rs1,300 or Rs1,400 for 2000 ltrs.

K Pongener, a resident at Lower Chandmari Colony Kohima informs that her family of five receives two buckets of water three times a week through the PHED. With the meager provision, private water supply is purchased. On days when the family is not able to afford water, they draw water from a small spring in the neighborhood. However, drawing water from community springs and wells is always a struggle. "Nowadays we have to wait for an hour to draw one bucket of water," says Pongener.

"Talk about hand washing in the present COVID- 19 pandemic. We have to keep reusing and recycling our water, as it has become too expensive to buy water for many families in Kohima," adds another resident at PWD colony.

A resident at Keziekie who lives in a rented apartment mentions that they receive only two buckets of government water supply once a week now.

"The other day the KMC had provided one bucket of water in our colony for each household but our house was too far away for us to walk and avail a single bucket," says the resident.

A private water supplier from Jotsoma informed that with the current peak season of water scarcity, he makes five or six trips per day to the capital with 2000 liters of water per trip. With the high demand of water, the supplier also admits that water sources are getting dried up very quickly.