Dimapur, July 31 (EMN): Local authorities of Phesama village in Kohima district have written to the department of Public Health Engineering asking the latter to nullify a memorandum that was stated to have been signed between Makhuma ‘khel’ of Phesama village and the department on July 26.
Leaders of Merama khel, Viyiema khel, and Seikhama khel issued a joint representation addressed to the chief engineer of the department on Monday.
The groups stated that a memorandum of understanding was been signed between Makhuma khel and the Public Health Engineering department on July 26 for Dzücharü water source of Phesama village to supply water to Kohima town.
The representation declared: ‘However, Phesama village consisting of the other three khels Merama, Seikhama and Viyiema, hereby, after general consultation would like to present before you with the facts about the Dzücharü water source supplying water to Kohima town. The three khels have come to know that a Memorandum of understanding had been undertaken without the consent of the other khels, and should be treated as null and void.’
The statement continued: This is in pursuance of the ‘actual verbal agreement’ between the government and the Phesama village during 1966, ‘wherein, the agreement was verbally made by the then chief minister and his cabinet colleagues and the Phesama villagers at Phesama village and not by a particular khel or individual as claimed.’
Stating the claim, the representation added: ‘You are hereby informed that the said MOU is declared null and void, and for future course, if any agreement is to be made for the said matter, should have to be executed by a competent authority, that is at the chief minister's level and Phesama Village Council.’
