JYO threatens to cut water supply to Kohima town

Dimapur, Jan. 29 (EMN): Jotsoma Youth Organisation (JYO) on Friday has threatened to sever the water supply from Dzüna and Kelorü streams to Kohima town if the state government fails to fulfil its ‘long pending commitments.’

Citing an agreement dated December 12, 1976, JYO in a statement issued on Friday, expressed discontentment at the inaction of the government to fulfil ‘clause iii,’ which assured to appoint Jotsoma villagers to grade IV staff, convert government middle school to a government high school, construct additional school building, a full sized playground, staff quarters and hostels etc.

JYO stated that about 18 persons from the village were appointed. It, however, claimed that all these persons retired over the years and no one from the village was appointed against the retirement vacancies.

It further stated that ‘not a single classroom’ was added to the existing infrastructure, which was built in 1968, although the school has now been upgraded to higher secondary level having Arts and Commerce streams.

JYO said that a letter, dated February 6, 2019, had been sent to the state government requesting it to take immediate action to fulfil the commitments.

“Despite having received the JYO representation and having waited for more than one year, the department did not take any seriousness to the genuine demands of JYO which further infuriated the JYO and while readying to take action as intimated, the Chief Secretary intervened and called a joint meeting on March 19, 2020. In the meeting, the state government was represented by chief secretary, the principal secretary, school education, principal secretary, PHED while JYO was represented by its executives. The meeting was held in the presence of Hon’ble MLA 8th W/A Constituency. In the meeting the principal secretary, School Education assured that the department will find ways and means to improve the infrastructure of the school at the earliest. The meeting further agreed to appoint the 18 Grade IV staff, to look after the water supply to Kohima. It also agreed that the appointed Gd-IV staff may be deployed in and around Kohima as and when the need arises. The meeting concluded with the decision to review act
ion taken after every three months,” it read.

However, it said that no action has been taken either by the ‘School Education department to go for the joint verification as decided in the meeting or the PHED in appointing the 18 Grade-4 staff’.

It further stated that an ultimatum was served to the state government on December 18, 2020, warning of cutting off water supply to Kohima from within Jotsoma village if the government fails to fulfil the decision taken in the joint meeting held on March 19, 2020 on or before January 31, 2021.

JYO said that state government had not initiated any action to resolve the matter till Jan. 29. It therefore said that “on expiry of the stipulated time, taping of water from Dzüna and Kelorü streams will be stopped.”