Govt has failed to honor 1976 agreement, JYO says
Kohima, January 29 (MExN): Water supply in Kohima faces disruption in the coming days with the Jotsoma Youth Organisation (JYO) threatening to stop the tapping of water from the Dzüna and Kelorü streams after January 31.
Citing the State Government’s failure to honor its 45 year old agreement, the JYO has further alleged that its recent ultimatum to the Government issued on December 18,2020 has also not been acted upon till date.
The JYO on Friday expressed displeasure over the State Government’s failure to fulfill its commitments regarding the agreement made while tapping water from the Dzüna and Kelorü streams in Jotsoma in 1976.
In a press release appended by its President Rokovizo Senotsu and Press Secretary Medoleto Seüno, the JYO informed that, “…While tapping water from Dzüna and Kelorü streams, the two lifeline of Jotsoma village, the State Government made certain commitments through an Agreement dated 15/12/1976.”
According to Clause iii of the agreement, JYO said that the State Government agreed “To convert the existing Government M.E. School to a Government M.E. cum High School. And also for future expansion, to build additional school building, full sized playground, staff quarters and hostels etc.”
Further, it also assured that villagers would be appointed to suitable Grade IV staff. Accordingly, about 18 persons from the village were appointed. Over the years, all these persons retired, regrettably no one from the village was appointed against the retirement vacancies, the JYO stated.
The JYO further said that various representations had been made to the Government to fulfill Clause iii of the Agreement and for further augmentation of the existing infrastructure of the school.
“…Not a single class room was added to the existing infrastructure which were built in 1968 while the school was still a M.E. School which is now upgraded to Higher Secondary level having Arts and Commerce streams,” the JYO noted.
The Organization wrote a letter to the Government by the on February 6, 2019 requesting for immediate action to fulfill the commitments.
Despite having waited for more than a year, the Department did not take any seriousness to the JYO’s demands which caused them to prepare to take action, the JYO stated.
However, on the intervention of the Chief Secretary (CS), a joint meeting was convened on March 19, 2020 with the CS, Principal Secretary, School Education and Principal Secretary, PHED representing the State Government.
In the meeting, the Principal Secretary, School Education reportedly assured that the department would find ways and means to improve the infrastructure of the school at the earliest. The meeting further agreed to appoint the 18 Grade IV staff, to look after the water supply to Kohima. It also agreed that the appointed Grade IV staff may be deployed in and around Kohima as and when the need arises. The meeting concluded with the decision to review action taken after every three months, the JYO stated.
However, the Organization said that in spite of the decision being taken at the highest level with the CS himself assuring that the long pending commitments shall be fulfilled, no action has been taken either by the School Education Department regarding the joint verification or the PHED in appointing the 18 Grade IV staff.
The JYO had issued an ultimatum on December 18,2020 to the Government to fulfill the decision taken in the joint meeting on or before January 31, failing which it threatened to stop the tapping of water from the two streams for water supply to Kohima.
As per the JYO, till January 29, “the State Government has not initiated any action to resolve the matter.” As such, on expiry of the stipulated time, tapping of water from Dzüna and Kelorü streams will be stopped, it said.
It further appealed the public not to hold the JYO responsible for the difficulties that may be faced by the public of Kohima and the surrounding villages in the near future.
