A Concern on the Proposed NH-29 Four Lane Road Construction

I am neither an environmentalist nor the land owner or seen the DPR of the proposed NH-29 four lane construction between Dimapur and Kohima; but as a concern citizen of the state, I want to share few of my personal views regarding the road constructions in Nagaland which are affecting the rivers, which God has created to add beauty to the nature. The construction of two lanes road from Mokokchung to Longleng had destroyed the beauty of the river Dikhu where tones of construction debris were dumped into it, which had affected the physical river bed and the aquatic life of the river. In the proposed four lane road construction between Dimapur and Kohima, my apprehension is that the same damage could be done on the Chathe river, etc. For the authorities just issue such Clearance/NOC for the sake of collecting fees and charges by just sitting inside their offices whether road construction, building construction, drainage construction, foot path construction; or for that matter any other developmental activities without assessing the actual damage to be created on the ground. And in this project too, tones of construction debris are likely to be dumped in to the river Chathe, which presently is adding to the nature’s beauty to the travelers and tourists. If this aspect is not look into now, the same damage would be done on the Chathe River too; as had been done to the river Dikhu. Therefore, the concern department/agency shall be highly appreciated, if the beautiful Chathe River along the NH-29, be protected and preserved to add beauty for the travelers, which act as a welcome gate to the hill state of Nagaland especially to the tourists. This can be effectively done by depositing the soil and debris to some other sites without dumping it into the Chathe River. Yes, to gain something, we have to sacrifice something; but there is always ways and means to minimize the sacrifices.

K.A.Jacob, Nagabazar