The Office of Director commands 3 circles, 14 divisions and 42 sub-divisions with a total manpower of about 3907
Principal Correspondent
KOHIMA, SEPTEMBER 2
IN what has been considered as one of the cheapest building of a government office building, the Minister for Public Health Engineer Department (PHED) Noke Wangnao today inaugurated the new office building of PHED near Naga Solidarity Park, New Secretariat area.
The four-storied building with 24 rooms, office canteen, conference hall and also RCC water storage reservoir of capacity of 2 lakh litres constructed at an area of 16,380 sq. ft. was completed at a cost of Rs. 5.5 crore.
Addressing the gathering “We are now fortunate to have a new building during our time for the directorate employees,” said Wangnao and thanked the contractor for completing the construction in time bound manner with appreciable workmanship.
He said PHED is one of the most important department dealing with water, which is necessary for survival of the human beings. He said PHED has always contributed towards sanitation, providing safe and potable drinking water supply, safe disposal of waste and environment hygiene.
Nevertheless, he regretted that in the past the department was neglected, but with the coming of NPF-led DAN government the department is being given due importance.
He said that with the formation of the DAN government since 2003, “we have taken major initiatives particularly for the infrastructural development of the directorate offices in the state”. He said that the government is still continuing to work towards the welfare and progress of the state.
He said the new NDA government at the centre under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has considered water and sanitation as one of the priority sectors in his developmental agendas.
Modi has stressed the priority to achieve “Swachh Bharat by 2019”, i.e to make India completely free from the evil practice of open defecation and to make a clean India by 2019.”
Every school and Anganwadi centres in the country has to be provided with toilets separately for boys and girls by 15th August 2015.
The minister was optimistic that the officers and staff will work with more responsibility and accountability, effectiveness and determination with the inauguration of this new building.
The minister and his wife also released documentaries on “Sanitation – Human Rights” and “Sanitation- Reach Out.”
PHED Chief Engineer Kevisekho Kruse said in view of the continuous expansion of the department over the years, a new office building with sufficient floor space became an urgent necessity for smooth functioning of the department. To overcome this, PHED proposed to construct a new office building for PHED directorate office at the new Secretariat Complex Kohima which construction has been completed in all respects.
He said that it has a Management Information System (MIS) Cell fully equipped with all essential computer hardware linked with Internet Connectivity from NIC and other service providers for facilitation regular and continuous online data entry and reporting of physical and financial progress under programmes of the Government of India and the state.
Er. Kruse said, besides the provision for continuous safe drinking water supply through a deep tube well clubbed with an Iron Removal Plant and overhead reservoirs at the terrace and subsequently connecting to Elken Water filters. The building also has a provision for harvesting rain water with an RCC water storage reservoir of capacity of 2 lakh litres. He mentioned that the PHED became a full-fledged department in 1974 after bifurcated from the erstwhile PWD and was initially headed by a SE with its office accommodated in the first and second floors of the present PWD South Division office located below AG office Kohima. Over the years, he said, with the increased activities and subsequent increase in workload the PHED expanded its establishment both at the technical and administrative wings headed by a Chief Engineer since 1990. He also stated in his report that the Directorate office today commands a total of 3 circles, 14 Divisions and 42 Sub-Divisions with a total manpower of about 3907.
There is a 20 KVA capacity power generator besides a 100 KVA transformer installed for normal power supply, he said.
He also informed that though Charlie Sekhose was awarded the work as official contractor on April 13, 2011 with the work, NPWD 1st Class contractor James Liezietsu completed it on April 6, 2013.
Chairing the function, Principal Secretary PHED R. Binchilo Thong also delivered the welcome address while vote of thanks was proposed by Er. K. Ghushito Sumi, director WSSO (PHED).
Konyak Women Folk Dance was presented by Mon Circle Citizen Union Kohima while Naga Idol 2007 Ruokuovotuo Pfusenuo entertained the gathering with special number.
