Principal Correspondent
Kohima, February 27
In a nod to the sanitation campaign, Swacch Bharat, and marking 50 years of Nagaland’s statehood, the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) has constructed a pay-and-use toilet facility near the entrance to the Secretariat complex in Kohima town.
Chief Secretary of Nagaland CJ Ponraj inaugurated the facility, a much needed restroom for the thousands of public members as well as drivers and bodyguards who throng the government’s never center. The area has lacked such a facility for long.
Taking the opportunity, Ponraj remarked that the concept of public welfare in Nagaland was ‘weak.’ He attributed the reason to government employees’ working for own welfare instead of working for the welfare of the people.Therefore, the chief secretary said government employees should make themselves available to provide services demanded of them to the people, and bridge the gap between them and the public in general.
Ponraj lauded the PHED for providing the facility as outlined in a decision by administrative heads of departments to implement a project each to mark Nagaland’s 50 years as a full state.
The chief secretary said that the location of the facility was ideal. He suggested that the Home department also work towards constructing some resting sheds.
Chief Engineer Kevisekho Kruse presented the technical report for the project. He said the program was undertaken as a part of ‘contribution’ marking 50 years of Nagaland’s statehood. The project was implemented at the cost of Rs 15 lakhs, he said. The new facility, for men and women, is to the left of the main entrance behind the parking zone.
Kruse also said the pay-and-use facility had 4 units each for men and women; two side rooms to facilitate small shops as well. Proper water supply has also been attached to the toilets. The facility shall be manned by the PHE department initially before handing it to the Secretariat Complex Management Committee, he said.
