Correspondent
Kohima, November 19
IN lieu of the dry-spell surmounting the denizens of Kohima, the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) Nagaland today conducted workshop on water conservation at Ura Academy Hall Kohima.
Highlighting the objective of the workshop which organized as part of the Union government declaration “2013 – Year of Water Conservation”, Executive Engineer (PHED) Rural Division, Jakpou Khiamniungan said “the workshop is to create awareness on the need of water conservation as water is a basic necessity of human beings which is required to be shared, conserved and treated with respect as it is increasingly becoming a scarce resource”.It said that goals of water conservation efforts include sustainability to ensure availability for future generation while withdrawal of water from an ecosystem should not exceed its natural replacement rate.
He said that conservation of water also helps conserving the environment as minimizing human water use helps to preserve water sources, wildlife as well as reducing the need to construct more water supply infrastructures.
He also said that in implementing water conservation principles the key activities adopted include – any beneficial reduction in water loss, use and waste; avoiding contamination of water through human, industrial and agricultural waste as well as improving management practices that reduce or enhance the beneficial use of water.
On behalf of the department and Water & Sanitation (WATSAN) Committee, he appealed the consumers to repair or replace leaking pipes and reservoirs while stating that small drip from worn out taps can waste 90 liters of water per day while larger leaks can waste thousands of liters.
Meanwhile, SDO (C) Sadar, Kohima Wennyie Konyak addressing the WATSAN Committees from the different villages attending the workshop as the chief guest stressed on the need of spreading awareness on conservation of water and also understanding the importance of water.
Maintaining that water is the basic requirement for any human being to survive, he suggested that sensitization activities should be taken into the rural areas and also try to bring about reforms in methods of conserving water.
Kohima Divisional Forest Office, Sidramappa and Superintending Engineer (PHED) Kohima Circle, Y Tep spoke on the topics “2013 – Year of Water Conservation’ and ‘World Toilet Day and Message on Sanitation’ respectively as the resource persons of the workshop.
SDO Kohima Rural, PHED Ruokuovituo Vizo gave the concluding remarks and also tendered the vote of thanks.
Mention may be made here that as the union cabinet declared 2013 as the year of water conservation, the PHED Nagaland felt necessary to take initiatives to mark, Water Conservation Day today in all district level by organizing the workshop.
In order to fulfill the initiatives the department had taken steps by instructing the WATSAN Committee to do the traditional wells cleaning at their respective village while the teach in-charge of all schools have been requested to give message of ‘proper and economical’ use of water to school children today during the assembly.
It may also be mentioned here that the issue of water scarcity in the capital dominated proceedings in the opening day of the Budget session earlier this year.
