BOMDILA, 22 Feb: The West Kameng PHE&WS department on Thursday celebrated 100 percent saturation of drinking water connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in the district.
In a function held at the Kameng Club here, Bomdila MLA Dongru Siongju and Dirang MLA Phurpa Tsering congratulated the department.
Tsering gave examples of how unsustainable water use and negligence of catchment areas have led to water woes in hill stations like Darjeeling and Kalimpong, and said that “we must not let a similar fate befall Bomdila township.”
While Har Ghar Jal has been achieved, the focus must now shift towards sustainability of catchment areas, responsible use and clean water supply, he said.
Siongju encouraged the PRI members and officers at the village level to “spread awareness and educate the gaon burahs on protection of catchment areas, who would in turn ensure passage of customary laws to eliminate deforestation while at the same time conducting social service once a month to ensure non-pollution of water resources.”
Dirang PHE&WS EE Dani Lampung and AE Tung Sono delivered presentations on the recently approved operation and maintenance policy, and the recently enacted Protection of Drinking Water Catchment Area Act, 2013.
Executive Engineer Niapung Konia and ADC (HQ) Hage Tarung also spoke.
HoDs, officers and staffers of works departments, panchayat members, among others, attended the function.
In Namsai district, a ‘saturation celebration-cum-workshop on operation and maintenance of water supply assets’ was organised by the District Water & Sanitation Mission to mark the achievement.
Namsai PHE&WS Division EE Radhe Raja explained the adoption of new and innovative methods in creation of water supply assets under the JJM.
Six best-performing village water sanitation committees – of Pangkhao, Insa, Lathao-I, Wagunpather-II, Nongkhon, and Manphaliang villages – were felicitated. Also, three best-performing women handling FTK, and six field staffers were awarded.
Namsai DC CR Khampa stressed on “the importance of potable water for overall quality of life,” and urged the village water sanitation committees to “work together to ensure sustainability of the JJM.”
Among others, ZPC Nang Urmila Mancheykhun, and ZPMs Bijoy Ballav Neog, Chow Jenia Namchoom and Nang Sawanni Hopak attended the programme.
In Lohit district, Assistant Commissioner Kamaleshwar Rao called for “efficient and sustainable use of water resources, in view of the changing climate and increasing water scarcity.”
He was speaking during a programme organised on the occasion of 100 percent FHTC saturation celebration under the JJM by the district water & sanitation mission of the PHED here on Thursday.
Also present on the occasion was Tezu ZPM Banlong Tindiya, who in his address said, “Only depending on the department will not make any scheme successful; there is a need for all stakeholders to participate enthusiastically in order to make any government scheme a successful one.”
PHED EE Hage Mobing spoke about the Catchment Area Protection Act, 2023.
Awards were later presented to the best-performing VWSC, the best-performing FTK handling women group, the best-performing field staffers, the best-performing ISA implementation support agency, and to the winners of the drawing and essay competitions that had been conducted on 8 February.
A signature campaign on protection of drinking water & catchment area was also organised during the programme. (DIPROs)
