DIMAPUR — Water and Sanitation (WATSAN)
committees from various villages under the Public Health Engineering Department
(PHED) Rural Division of Niuland and Chümoukedima districts, along with the
Dimapur Urban Division, have condemned allegations made by Nagaland
Transparency, Public Rights Advocacy and Direct Action Organisation (NTPRADAO)
against PHED regarding the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission in
Nagaland.
In a press statement issued jointly by the WATSAN committees
of 46 villages under Niuland and Chümoukedima districts, it was stated that the
claims and allegations were unfounded.
It was also noted that all civil works under the Jal Jeevan
Mission are supervised and executed by the respective WATSAN committees,
working in tandem with the department, and that the committees are now
anticipating the release of funds for the pending bills.
Furthermore, it stated that, with beneficiaries expressing
gratitude for the successful implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission, it is
concerning that an "unmandated organisation" called NTPRADAO is
focused on tarnishing the image of the PHED for reasons best known to them.
It reiterated that, should the concerned ministry decide to
withhold further releases, the NTPRADAO will be held solely accountable, and
all pending bills will have to be borne by them. It added that, with the works
completed and schemes successfully implemented, the WATSAN committees will
stand firm with the PHED and denounce the allegations made by NTPRADAO.
The villages are Ahozhe, Kiyezhe, Kuhuboto, Lotovi, Naga
United, Nizhevi, Showuba Old, Vihokhu, Nihoto, Zuvukhu, Ghowoto, Manglamukh,
Shikavi, Hazadisa, Disagaphu, Murise, Tsithrongse, Lhothavi, Pimla, Zutovi,
Dhansiripar, Khaimnok, Shitovi, Razaphe Basa, Razaphe, Vidima, Diezephe, Bade,
Dhansiripar HQ, Melongmen, Seluophe, Toshiho, Hevuxu, Izhevi, Khutovi, Nitozu,
R Hovishe, Tohokhu, Tokishe, Xukhuvi, Hakhizhe, Hevikhe, P Vizheto, S Vihuto,
Bungsang, and Kiyevi B.
Meanwhile, in a separate press statement, the WATSAN
Committee of Dimapur Urban Division said that it firmly stands by and
reiterates the press statement that appeared on December 16 in various local
dailies regarding the implementation of civil works under the JJM programme.
It stated that, should the ministry withhold the pending
bills for the completed works, NTPRADAO will be held responsible, and all such
bills will be borne by the organisation.
It further stated that NTPRADAO is a self-styled
organisation, and the recent ramblings among its members have once again
exposed its true nature.
Claiming that such an organisation should be outrightly
condemned and rejected by the general public, it further urged the public to
disregard baseless allegations and appealed for unity in standing against
unwarranted claims that could harm communal harmony.
