Rüzaphema village rejoices as tap water flows after over a decade

September 27, 2023 12 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Kohima | September 27

Rüzaphema village, one of the oldest and largest Angami villages under Chümoukedima District (erstwhile under Dimapur district), is finally celebrating a momentous occasion after enduring more than a decade of hardship due to absence of reliable water supply.

The village, with its water sources miles away, had faced severe difficulties in accessing clean and safe drinking water. The villagers have had to undertake arduous journey daily to fetch water from distant sources. Women and children would carry heavy containers up steep hills, often spending hours each day on this laborious task. During dry season, it was a common sight to see womenfolk gathered around spring water source waiting for their turns to collect water in the wee hours of the mornings.

The lack of dependable water source not only affected their daily lives but also hindered their agricultural activities and limited economic activities.

Finally, after 15 long years of waiting, tap water became a reality for the villagers with the successful commissioning of ‘augmentation of water supply by gravity system and retrofitting with functional household tap connection’ under Jal Jeevan Mission on September 26 by the Chief Engineer & HoD, Public Health Engineering Department, Er. Repangyangba Longkumer.

Earlier, the village had access to piped water supply from Thekrejuma source, which has long since become defunct, with the infrastructure deteriorating over the course of time due to lack of maintenance.

“It was in such a context that the Jal Jeevan Mission scheme was planned for this village” said Er. Nirie-e Nisa, Executive Engineer, PHED, Rural Division, Dimapur.

The water is sourced upstream from Khouva River located in the reserved forest area of Punglwa village under Peren district. Since the two villages have good relationship, tapping of the water from the source was amicably agreed upon with assurance that there would be no encumbrance in any circumstance.

The augmentation of water supply from Khouva River by gravity system and retrofitting with functional household tap connection was constructed with a total cost of Rs 208.38 lakh inclusive of 5% community contribution amounting to Rs 9.92 lakh.

Terming it as a ‘Red Letter Day’ for the village, Zakie Kehie, a resident said Rüzaphema village was synonymous with ‘water problem’ adding that whenever people ask of his village, the immediate response would always be, ‘Oh water problem village.’

Highlighting the importance of water as one of the most essential resources for all living beings, Kehie appreciated the government of the day for fulfilling the much needed requirements of the villagers.

He light-heartedly quipped “now since we have a good water supply, all those villagers living outside can plan to celebrate Christmas in the village.”
“Today like a dream… We had almost lost hope to see this day!” exclaimed Achü Sesa, a housewife with joy and relief beaming wide across her face. Water and good roads are the basic essential requirement of every citizen, she added.

Recollecting the years when most of the time was spent on collecting water, Sesa observed that women and children bore the brunt of water scarcity. She let out a sigh of relief that ‘those experiences of drudgery are in the past now’ adding that with water, everything seems so bright and fresh in the village.

It may be mentioned that seven water tanks with a capacity of 4000 litres have been constructed at strategic locations for equitable distribution, while additional works including refurbishment of existing RCC tank of 65,000 litres capacity and installation of support with suspension cables at the river crossings to carry the pipe across has been executed to reach the village.

Er. Nisa appreciated the village community while stating that “community contribution in the form of kind and labour have been generously made during the execution of work which has been valued and recorded.” The village has shown exemplary and outstanding cooperation with the department to realize their long awaited desire to have piped water supply, he added.

As per 2011 census, Rüzaphema village with 380 households has a population of 2395, and shares its border with Peren district.