Minister of Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Jacob Zhimomi, Thursday disclosed that the department has set a target of providing Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every household in 550 villages (50 villages in each district) in the financial year 2020-2021 under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). The Har Ghar Jal programme, under JMM, is envisioned to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections by 2024 to all households in rural India, under the department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India.
Addressing the PHED review and co-ordination meeting at the department’s conference hall on Thursday, the minister directed all the executive engineers (EE) of the district to list out all the department’s incomplete or defects projects and submit it to the department within 15 days. He also directed the EEs to upload details of how funds from the ministry have been spent in time. Jacob said that the main reason for delay of funding from the ministry was late uploading of the project for evidence in the official website.
Reminding that PHED was public utility department and answerable to the public of its activities and achievements, the minister called upon the department officials to tighten the belt and work hard.
He also advised the respective districts to conduct seminars relating to sanitation for behavioural changes. The minister further directed the officials to visit the project site and not be “a table engineer.” Challenging the engineers to work hard, the minister said unless they worked hard the state would not develop. On sidelines of the programme, minister informed that Zarü stream project, which would supply water to the state capital, would be commissioned by March this year.
He said once the project was commissioned, it would supply water of 3.8 million litres daily to the state capital.
Stating that Kohima town required 15 million litres per day, Zhimomi informed that the present Jotsoma water supply was only 1.5 lakh litres.
In his address, principal secretary PHED, MK Mero, also reminded the department officials of the huge task and responsibility ahead. He informed that the first phase of JJM would target 109 villages in the state, adding that materials have already arrived.
Highlighting the shortage of manpower, the principal secretary said that the department needed around 2000 work charge to implement JJM across the state. He said that at present the department has around 700 persons only. He reminded the gathering that the department needed cooperation and dedication to achieve the goal.
The programme was chaired by chief engineer PHED Er. Repangyanger Longkumer and vote of thanks was proposed by WSSO director Er. N. Thsathrichem Sangtam. Programme was attended by executive engineers of all the districts, directorate officials and others. Later, the minister had discussion and interaction with the engineers.