‘State already working inputs toward Smart City plan’

Our Correspondent
KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 26

Following Nagaland’s capital Kohima being selected to be developed as one of the smart cities in India, it comes as good news that the state’s government has started to take up the projects towards achieving that goal.
With loan assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the government has already taken up few infrastructure developments in the service sectors such as water supply, solid waste management and sanitation management, etc. Some of these infrastructures have come to reality, while the rest will soon be developed for Kohima city.
This was stated by SI Jamir, Adviser to Urban Development, during the commissioning of Water Treatment Plant at Kohima Science College in Jotsoma near Kohima town on Thursday.
“One of the projects towards making Kohima a smart city is the improvement of water supply system. This includes the construction of 17 reservoirs in and around Kohima city and also the refurbishment of this water treatment plant,” Jamir said. He expressed delight that the citizens of Kohima, with the commissioning the said project, will now have access to safe, hygienic and potable water.
He further disclosed that the government is developing a scientific solid waste management facility for the city at Lierie colony with capital investment exceeding Rs 40 crores, and this project will be inaugurated very shortly. The adviser also went on to inform that a septage treatment plant will soon be developed to address the septage issues in Kohima.
With Kohima facing acute shortage of water all throughout the year, Jamir said the existing water supply network of the city is also being revamped with a new network system and covering the entire city under ADB loan.
While informing that the government is currently taking up a project to bring water to the city through pumping, Jamir urged the PHED to see that the project is completed on priority so that some relief is given to the citizens.
Towards solving the acute shortage of water and also to sustain the future demand of the city, Jamir categorically mentioned that sufficient quantity of bulk water supply is required.
To this, he said, “I want to assure that the government is making all efforts to solve this issue. And in this direction, negotiation with the water source owners and stakeholders are underway.”
The adviser expressed hope that the basic infrastructure developments under ADB will go a long way in creating an improved environment and further increase access to better urban services in the city for the well-being of the citizens.
On the move towards making Kohima a smart city, Jamir underscored the need of ‘smart contribution’ from the people, ‘smart cooperation’ from the neighboring villages and ‘full and smart support’ from all the government departments.
Failing to respond positively, he voiced his apprehension saying “Kohima city would be left far behind from other cities.”
Speaking during the occasion, Kevisekho Kruse, the chief engineer of the PHED, emphasized on providing quality water and good service delivery to the people of the State, particularly Kohima.
“Water sufficiency alone is not going to be good for our health. What is important is ‘safe drinking’,” he said. He went on to say that the department in concern was trying its best to provide water as per World Health Organization standard and Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS).
Highlighting the importance of consuming quality water, he said that Nagaland state has been encountering problems caused by excess nitrate, iron and bacteriological problems etc. He also emphasized on the need to have safe drinking water with proper treatment and quality and ensured to deliver good quality of service to the people with the participation of all the concerned departments.
With millions of people dying due to water and water related diseases every year, he stressed on improving the water quality, while he urged the general public to maintain awareness on consuming quality water.
Kruse expressed happiness over the completion of water tanks within Kohima district and the Refurbishment Treatment Plant, he hoped that these additional components would give effective services to the people of Kohima.
The refurbishment of Kohima water supply scheme is one of the projects of the North Eastern Region Capital Cities Development Investment Programme, jointly funded by Government of India and Government of Nagaland and assisted by ADB. The refurbishment work was completed with a total expenditure of Rs 826 lakh, it was informed.