Etsuchukha colony in Wokha hit by severe water shortage

The main drinking water source serving Etsuchukha Colony in Wokha town has dried up for the first time, triggering serious concern among residents and prompting calls for urgent intervention by the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED).
According to representatives of Etsuchukha Colony, the depletion of the water source has severely disrupted daily life, with many households struggling to access safe drinking water. They stated that the Etsuchukha water source meets nearly 50 to 60 per cent of Wokha town’s total water requirement, and its drying up has placed immense pressure on residents.
With the situation worsening, many families are now dependent on neighbours who have borewells or ring-wells to meet their basic water needs. Colony representatives described the situation as alarming and warned that prolonged inaction could lead to a major water crisis in the town.
In response to the crisis, the Etsuchukha Colony Ekhung had earlier submitted a five-point representation to the Executive Engineer, PHED, Wokha, urging immediate restoration of the water source along with the implementation of long-term remedial measures to prevent future occurrences.
Following the representation, a meeting was held on January 6 at the Office of the Chief Engineer, PHED, Kohima, where officials assured interim arrangements for drinking water supply and decided to suspend collection of monthly water tariffs until restoration of regular supply. The meeting also resolved to conduct a joint survey involving PHED, the Etsuchukha Colony Ekhung and the Department of Geology and Mining to assess groundwater availability and regulate borewell usage in the area.
However, as the crisis persists on the ground, Etsuchukha Council representatives stated that another meeting was verbally convened by the PHED on January 8 to address the issue. The meeting was subsequently called off by the colony representatives after senior PHED officials failed to attend. Only a Junior Engineer from PHED and Dobashis representing the district administration were present.
The Etsuchukha representatives maintained that the drying up of the main water source is a serious matter affecting public welfare and cannot be addressed at the Junior Engineer level alone. They stressed the need for the presence of senior PHED officials with decision-making authority was crucial.
Residents have reiterated demands for immediate restoration of the water source through drilling or other modern technologies, regulation of commercial water pumping, supply of drinking water to economically weaker sections, and the constitution of an inquiry committee to identify the causes behind the unprecedented drying up of the Etsuchukha water source.
The colony has urged the PHED and district administration to treat the issue with urgency, warning that prolonged inaction could lead to a public health crisis in the area.