Kohima: With intensification of the prolonged dry spell, acute drinking water scarcity has gripped this capital town with water selling for Rs20 a bucket.
Reports of water shortage from other district towns of the hill state have been received with authorities regulating the supply so that at least all residential colonies could get water on a rotational basis. The distribution of water has started in some residential wards since yesterday giving some respite, but hotels and those who reside beside main thoroughfares of the town have been at the mercy of private water vendors. A pair of buckets of water supplied by the vendors costs at least Rs 20 with buyers having no choice about the source. The distribution by tankers in the wards would continue till April 30 subject to extension, PHE secretary Zhaleo Rio said.
A nominal fee of 20 paise a litre will be realised for the water distributed, he said in a notification. The department has said the water was for drinking and cooking and under no circumstance will a tanker of water be sold to any individual or party, such as hotels and restaurants.
The dwellers in surrounding villagers have also complained that most streams on hills are slowly drying up since the state experienced less rainfall during monsoon and there was hardly any rain since November. Since water scarcity during the winter (December-April) is a reality in Nagaland, the state government has encouraged people to take up rain water harvesting in their residences to cover the lean period as the state receives high rainfall during monsoon. Most buildings under various departments that came up in past few years have rain water harvesting facilities on roof tops.
Source: PTI, 12 March, 2010.
Reports of water shortage from other district towns of the hill state have been received with authorities regulating the supply so that at least all residential colonies could get water on a rotational basis. The distribution of water has started in some residential wards since yesterday giving some respite, but hotels and those who reside beside main thoroughfares of the town have been at the mercy of private water vendors. A pair of buckets of water supplied by the vendors costs at least Rs 20 with buyers having no choice about the source. The distribution by tankers in the wards would continue till April 30 subject to extension, PHE secretary Zhaleo Rio said.
A nominal fee of 20 paise a litre will be realised for the water distributed, he said in a notification. The department has said the water was for drinking and cooking and under no circumstance will a tanker of water be sold to any individual or party, such as hotels and restaurants.
The dwellers in surrounding villagers have also complained that most streams on hills are slowly drying up since the state experienced less rainfall during monsoon and there was hardly any rain since November. Since water scarcity during the winter (December-April) is a reality in Nagaland, the state government has encouraged people to take up rain water harvesting in their residences to cover the lean period as the state receives high rainfall during monsoon. Most buildings under various departments that came up in past few years have rain water harvesting facilities on roof tops.
Source: PTI, 12 March, 2010.
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