No government water supply to Sümi village: Sümi village council

Alleging continuous suppression of Sümi village under Phek district, the Sümi village council (SVC) Tuesday said that the village has been surviving without government water supply since June 6, 2018.

In a press release, SVC chairman Neitelo Rhakho has appealed to the responsible government authorities and Secheku area leaders to understand the difficulties of Sümi village and help restore water supply to the village.

SVC claimed that in 1970, without the consent of the landowner (Sümi village), the land, which was the village site, was forcibly acquired in order to establish circle officer headquarters. 

When the leaders of the village complained, SVC said they were arrested, put into jail and tortured, adding some of them died due to inner injuries.

The village council stated that government promised that the land compensation would be given and the name of the town would be called Sümi town. However, SVC said nothing was done and Sümi village was only cheated. “They also verbally agreed that Welheri stream source will be supplied to Town and Sümi village in order to establish circle officer headquarters,” SVC stated. It, however, asserted that there was no written agreement. “There is also no written agreement of land acquisition between landowner (Sümi village) and the Government till today. The land was forcibly occupied suppressing the right of Sümi village,” SVC maintained.

Stating that water supply through 1 inch diameter pipe from Welheri water was supplied to Sümi village since 1974, SVC, however, said that in 1998 pipe size was reduced to ½ inch diameter, which was not sufficient for the village to survive.

Sümi village council said Sümi village communitised water supply to the village in 2006 under the government flagship programme. 

However, SVC said Welheri water source owners lodged complaint that their water source should not be communitised. 

SVC said it then requested the PHE department to withdraw communitization of water supply to Sümi village, adding that Welheri water source owners and Chizami town ad hoc committee decided to stop water supply to Sümi Village till communitization was withdrawn. 

SVC said SDO (Civil) issued order to stop water supply to Sümi Village on June 11, 2018, but water supply to Sümi Village was stopped on June 6, 2018.

Following its request, SVC said the PHE department issued withdrawal of WATSAN committee in respect of Sümi village vide Order Dated Kohima August 29, 2018. 

SVC said the withdrawal letter was circulated to all the concerned head of departments and persons. As per the order, SVC said Sümi village had dissolved WATSAN committee and submitted passbook and cheque book to executive engineer, PHE, Phek on November 7, 2018. 

However, SVC said water supply was not given to Sümi village till today.