Are We Prepared Enough
It is mostly characterised by intermittent light showers but heavy thunderstorms can’t be ruled out, as was seen last year, wherein heavy downpour wreaked havoc in several parts of Nagaland.
- After the recent brief shower that settled the dust in most
parts of the state, the skies may open up again as pre-monsoon is expected to
arrive anytime soon. Also called mango showers, pre-monsoon usually begins in
March and lasts until May. It is mostly characterised by intermittent light
showers but heavy thunderstorms can’t be ruled out, as was seen last year,
wherein heavy downpour wreaked havoc in several parts of Nagaland. The extreme
weather damaged several homes, roads and public infrastructure besides killing
one person last year. Now, the big question is whether we are better prepared
this time, should we face a similar situation. With the month of March here, we
can expect occasional showers as well as thunderstorms. It’s time to check our
preparedness. Are the concerned authorities prepared for pre-monsoon rains and
the subsequent monsoon that is expected to arrive in a few months? We have to
brace ourselves for extreme weather conditions, or else history can repeat
itself. This is time for the state government, district administration and
municipal councils to address the elephant in the room before another man-made
disaster strikes.
- If the concerned authorities are serious about mitigating
floods and other tragic incidents, drains should be desilted, especially in
urban areas like Dimapur and Kohima, to avoid waterlogging. Road construction
and maintenance works across the state should be executed on a war footing;
such projects should be completed before the rainy season begins. Priority should
be given to roads like the National Highway – 29 and National Highway – 2,
which are prone to landslides, mudslides and rockfalls, posing a serious threat
to human lives. Here, the onus is on the implementing agency -- National
Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL) -- to
complete this lifeline of the people from Nagaland and Manipur and take up
safety measures before the monsoon. Another road that needs special attention
is the crucial foothill road that has been delayed for years now despite
immense public pleasure. But this doesn’t mean other roads that connect
villages with district headquarters and towns deserve less attention. The state
government should ensure that the implementing agencies complete all road
projects in the state on time. Civil society organisations (CSOs) too should
actively participate in developmental projects by acting as a bridge between
the government and the public. Civil societies should monitor and take
contractors to task if projects do not meet the required specifications. A
healthy collaborative approach between the government and civil society is
imperative for ensuring workmanship and sustainable development.
