Highlighting the paradox of “excessive rainfall yet water scarcity,” Ajay Moktan, IAS, Assistant Commissioner of Mokokchung, has called for urgent water conservation and community participation to secure the town’s water future.
Speaking as the special guest at the World Water Monitoring Day observance held at Sangtemla Community Hall on Thursday, Moktan described it as “an odd reality” that despite abundant rainfall, Mokokchung continues to face scarcity of water. The event was organized by the Nagaland Community Conserved Areas Forum (NCCAF) in collaboration with the Forest & Biodiversity Management in the Himalaya (Nagaland) Project and in partnership with the Tzüla (Dikhu) Green Zone Project, Mokokchung.
“This is an odd reality,” he said, urging the gathering to adopt water conservation methods and take ownership of protecting water sources. “Children copy from us,” he remarked, stressing that this generation “has a lot to play” and must protect catchment areas like the Dikhu basin.
Citing an example, Moktan said that the conservation of about 700 hectares in Tseminyu decades ago has ensured that “the spring water never dies.”
Moktan laid out three suggestions for tackling water issues:
·strengthen water monitoring at the village level, including quality and seasonal flow testing,
·place community participation at the centre of decision-making, and
·integrate traditional conservation systems into modern approaches.
He stressed that community ownership is key: “We need to participate and own responsibilities.”
PHED flags weak infrastructure, lab tests water on 14 parameters
Hebo Zhimomi, Executive Engineer of the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Mokokchung, informed that the department currently tests water in its lab on 14 parameters — colour, odour, taste, pH, turbidity, Total Dissolved Solid, hardness, calcium, magnesium, total alkalinity, chloride, iron, nitrate, fluorine, and microbial contamination.
Water is tested twice a year — pre-monsoon and post-monsoon. “If anyone is interested to test their water, a sample can be tested for Rs 200 per sample. The sample needed is 1 litre,” he said.
Zhimomi admitted that Mokokchung suffers from a lack of water supply infrastructure. “The department is actively pursuing a safe water supply infrastructure,” he said, adding that a survey was started earlier this year and is currently in its preliminary stage. While several infrastructures have been submitted to villages, he noted, many still face scarcity.
“All water sources are located in forested areas,” Zhimomi said, explaining that water sources depend on rainfall and need sufficient catchment areas for discharge. He warned that water catchment areas are shrinking due to unplanned urbanization and deforestation. “Some things go beyond government and department areas,” he added, appealing for community participation.
He further informed that field testing kits have been provided to villages to test their own water sources.
‘We are the connecting generation,’ says academic
Temjensangla, Associate Professor in the Department of Geography, Fazl Ali College, Mokokchung, urged ethical behaviour and warned about the impact of deforestation and mining.
Calling the present generation “the connecting generation,” she urged today’s leaders to act responsibly. She also cautioned against “hyper reliance on government,” saying that communities must work when infrastructures are provided.
She further called for inclusiveness, collaboration, and community-led initiatives to safeguard water resources.
‘We have conserved forests but lack management plans’: NCCAF
The Nagaland Community Conserved Areas Forum (NCCAF) also called for stronger community-led conservation of forests and water resources during the observance of World Water Monitoring Day.
Speaking at the event, Tokugha, Vice Chairman of NCCAF, said the forum has numerous management plans across Mokokchung district and recalled the first NCCAF meeting at the Tzüla Green Zone Project. “We have many conserved areas in Nagaland. We aim to educate those who are not doing well while sharing knowledge from those who are. To maintain good water and air quality, we plan to educate one another through this forum,” he said.
Highlighting a key challenge, Tokugha noted that while many villagers conserve land, most lack proper management planning. “For over 20 villages in Mokokchung, I have prepared management plans in collaboration with the Foundation for Ecological Security, but participation has been disappointing,” he said.
The NCCAF management plans combine conservation with livelihood projects such as eco-tourism and sustainable harvesting of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs). Tokugha urged attendees to act as “conservation missionaries” and spread awareness in their villages. Villages seeking assistance can approach NCCAF’s Mokokchung coordinator, Dr. Rongsen.
The forum, now 11 years old, has officially registered only the Dikhu Green Zone Project. Registration costs Rs 5,000 for a lifetime and includes GPS mapping and management planning. Tokugha also advised caution in designating Community Reserved areas, noting that Community Conserved areas allow sustainable resource use and are better for long-term planning.
Imliyanger Jamir, Chairman of the Tzüla Green Project, emphasized the urgency of conservation. “Buying water was once something we read about in textbooks, but now it is reality. Nature is not ours; we must pass it to the next generation,” he said.
Setsachum Sangtam, NCCAF Treasurer, said the forum fosters unity among CCAs and builds wildlife corridors. To date, 135 villages are registered under NCCAF across 25 CCAs.
