Water bodies in Nagaland drying up, says Ozukum

Kohima, May 3 (EMN): Advisor of Water Resource Department, Tongpang Ozukum, who recently attended the 12th high-powered review meeting of the Brahmaputra Board in Guwahati on May 1, said that he had raised several issues faced by the state during the occasion.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a felicitation programme accorded to him in Kohima on Wednesday, the advisor said he had raised the concern arising out of drying water bodies in Nagaland.

As per the first census, the state has around 1432 water bodies but it’s drying up slowly. So, he apprised the board for rejuvenation of all the water bodies.

Nagaland has around 15 major rivers, which are becoming bigger due to erosion, he said, adding that ‘it is a genuine problem that we are facing’.

Ozukum further requested the union minister in-charge to approve a project once the state submits it, to which the latter agreed. ‘We want to focus this year on flood management and the erosion of our rivers,’ he added.

The funding pattern of the centrally-sponsored scheme called Common Area Development and Water Management, which is 50:50 (state’s share 50% and Centre 50%), makes states like Nagaland and other counterparts from the Northeast impossible to avail the programme, he said.

So, he requested the Centre to relax the funding pattern to 90:10 (Centre 50%, state 10%) so that all the northeastern states can avail the scheme.

It may be mentioned that Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who chaired the Brahmaputra Board meeting earlier this week, had said that a body for water resource management of the northeastern region will be formed as soon as it gets the parliament’s approval.

Thanksgiving programme

During the thanksgiving programme held in his honour at his official residence in Kohima on Wednesday afternoon, Ozukum said a development board for the 24-Angetyongpang Assembly Constituency, from where he won in the recent state general election, would be constituted to work with members from all the villages and town wards to look into the welfare of the people.

He assured to help civil service aspirants from the constituency and to open a hostel for them in Kohima.

Informing that an ambulance service has been launched, he urged the people of Angetyongpang A/C to avail the service at a subsidised rate.

He also thanked the people for placing their trust in him and electing him to the assembly.

Mongsengyimti Tsur Telongjem, Kohima, presented a folk song while various leaders from the constituency shared words of gratitude during the felicitation programme, which was attended by the people of 24-Angetyongpang A/C staying in Kohima, Ungma Union Kohima, and well-wishers.