CKS cautions Tuensang public on water project

Confusion over gravity water supply project

Morung Express News
November 15

KOHIMA: A sense of confusion prevails both within the government departments and also among the public over the Gravity Water Supply Project for Tuensang district. While it was learnt that the PHE Department was in favour of going ahead with the use of Galvanized Iron (GI) pipes instead of Ductile Iron (DI) pipes for the implementation of the water supply project, this move is contrary to the directives of the Department of Planning & Coordination, Government of Nagaland, which had earlier directed that only DI pipes should be used taking into consideration its superiority and durability.

Officials from the PHE department had earlier told The Morung Express that DI pipes as experienced in Mokokchung was not suitable for hilly terrains. The Department at the same time had said that it had no problem in going ahead with DI pipes if the people of Tuensang wanted it but made it clear that the government could not give a guarantee on the feasibility of DI pipes. 

The Department however could not comment on why non-ISI High Pressure GI pipes were going to be procured instead of DI pipes when the Additional Chief Secretary & Development Commissioner Lalhuma, Department of Planning & Coordination had passed a circular. A copy of the order, dated September 16, 2003 pointed out that in order to maintain transparency and strict quality control of materials particularly in departments utilizing pipes for water supply and sanitation etc, the Nagaland Government directed that from henceforth DI pipes should be utilized. It affirmed on the long lifespan of 80 years as opposed to GI pipes and also CI pipes (with life span of about 15-20 years). “All departments are advised to procure DI pipes from approved manufacturers and authorized dealers only in view of the superior quality of the Ductile Iron (DI) Pipes and their longer lifespan” the directive from the Development Commissioner stated.

Meanwhile, the Chang Khulei Setshang (CKS) has cautioned individuals and NGO groups not to issue any press statement on the issue regarding the gravity water supply project for Tuensang Town while stating that the matter with regard to the use of GI pipes had been solved and the technical problem of DI pipe had now been understood by the people of Tuensang. 

CKS General Secretary S. Yemba in a press communiqué also asked the concerned department to immediately and transparently carry out the ongoing project so that the general public of Tuensang would benefit in the long run by way of proper supply of water. “The CKS assures the department its physical and moral support till the project is successfully completed, in any matters, if necessary in implementing the project if only the department maintains transparency”.

The CKS however cautioned the department that at any point of time if the department was found misutilizing the central fund allocated to Tuensang Town for Gravity water supply, the CKS would not hesitate to take any kind of action and the department will be solely responsible for it. “We believe that the department will utilize the fund exactly and properly in implementing the said project”, the CKS stated
 



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