As part of an ongoing government-led initiative, workers clean a drain in Dimapur to improve urban drainage.
‘ULBs expected to deliver services’
Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 23
Community participation is as much important to alleviate the recurrent drainage and flooding woes in Dimapur, according to MLA and Advisor, Tovihoto Ayemi.
Ayemi, who is the Advisor for Tribal Affairs and Election, in the Neiphiu Rio-led Peoples Democratic Alliance (PDA) government, made the rounds in Dimapur, on May 23, inspecting an ongoing state-sponsored drainage-clearing exercise in Dimapur.
“The drainage is not a dustbin,” Ayemi said while stating that the monsoon preparedness initiative will fail without public cooperation.
He pointed out that citizens dump solid waste into drains instead of designated disposal sites, causing clogs and water-logging every monsoon.
Land encroachment that blocks drainage was cited as another big unaddressed problem. He however dismissed concerns about political influence shielding violators.
While stating the district administration has been instructed to clear violators, he said, “Nobody has the right to encroach over the drainage. There is no excuse for that. The law is the same for everybody.”
The ongoing drainage clearing exercise is a collaborative initiative under the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA). Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF) President Zasivikho Zakiesato said that the initiative is focused on six main locations, tracing the outlet pipeline from East Block and PWD colony down to the Dhansiri and Lengri rivers.
The operation involves the DUCCF, Gaonbura Union Dimapur Sadar, Naga Council Dimapur and civil society organisations. Zakiesato said that workers are pulling garbage from the drains and stockpiling it on the sides for eventual transport to the landfill. Nets have also been placed in areas like Ward 4 to catch incoming waste.
Zakiesato urged the municipality to issue an order prohibiting garbage disposal in drains, noting that civil society organisations cannot impose rules on the public. “If an order comes out from the Municipality, based on that, we can strictly implement it in our respective colonies,” he said.He appealed to residents to utilize municipal waste collection vehicles rather than discarding garbage into the drainage system.
He highlighted Mokokchung as a functioning example of collaboration between grassroot leaders and municipal authorities. Zakiesato suggested the DMC could mobilise resources to replicate this model, pointing out that municipal revenue collections should be sufficient given the current rates of commodities.
Split in NPF caused DMC crisis
Commenting on the recent tussle for the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) chairperson post, MLA and Advisor for Tribal Affairs and Election, Tovihoto Ayemi held that the issue stemmed from a division within the NPF, not the BJP. As part of the PDA government, he said that BJP councillors needed to be accommodated.
Ayemi cautioned against the trend of political divisions within Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). Pointing out that municipal elections were held after decades of delay, he said, “Any leadership has to be given a chance to serve its people.”
He added that political disruptions stall office functioning, preventing ULBs from delivering expected services to citizens.
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