Despite being surrounded by at least seven rivers– Zingki, Thsingaki, Nguki, Thükhaki, Yongna Rokre, Shu-yongkhi, Mütreki– residents of Kiphire town face water shortage. The name Kiphire, which means “near the river”, contrasts with the ongoing struggle of the people facing water scarcity.
Despite the abundance of water sources, the increasing population continues to place strain on the available water supply, resulting in persistent demand for water year after year. People blame the state government for insufficient supply of water in the town. United Sangtam Students’ Conference in 2012 had highlighted the issue and sought immediate intervention of the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) chief engineer to address the water scarcity in Kiphire town.
In the town, majority of the people relies on private water connectivity, which costs up to Rs 700 per month per family. There are also those who rely on water carrier vehicles, which cost Rs 150 per 100 litres.
Those from economically backward sections of the society and students living in rented houses are still using traditional ponds to meet their water requires as they cannot afford the cost of hiring vehicles or private water connectivity.
With the introduction of Jal Jeevan Mission scheme, which aims to provide drinking water supply to rural households through functional household tap connection (FHTC) by 2024, the people hope that it would resolve the crisis.
Speaking to Nagaland Post, PHED Kiphire executive engineer Akok Sair said the present pipeline was laid way back in the 2000s, adding that the size of the pipe was also very small, which could not suffice the need of rapidly increasing population.
He said the demand for new water connections was also high, but admitted that due to limited supply, the department could not provide connection to all.
According to him, although there were currently around 430 household consumers in Kiphire, but the increasing demand for new connections was putting a lot of pressure on the existing facilities.
Asked about the PHED’s initiative on the issue, Sair disclosed that the department had submitted a detailed project report (DPR) for construction of a pipeline a few years ago, but there had been no outcome thus far.
He said the pipelines measuring 16 km in Kiphire town too frequently experienced damage due to the wear and tear over the years.
He mentioned that the Operation & Maintenance staff was regularly on duty to maintain such rusted and damaged pipelines.
Meanwhile, a senior citizen of the town told this correspondentthat if the streams and rivers surrounding Kiphire were harnessed by the government, then its residents would not face water shortage.
As water was the primary source of life, he said not having it in sufficient quantity could lead to health issues, poor health and hygiene, etc. He stressed that the government should prioritise ensuring water supply in sufficient quantity to all residents of the town. Nagaland Post had highlighted the same issue in a report in October 2018.