EMN
DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 30
Chief Minister, TR Zeliang on Friday told Baptist leaders that the church in Nagaland needs to change the mindset of the people if we are to develop as a society and usher in greater developmental activities to our towns and cities.
“Interacting with members of the Nagaland Baptist Churches Council’s Sanitation Committee this evening at his residential office, the Chief Minister said the Church, being a most influential platform in the Naga society, should educate the people to cooperate with the Government in matters of progress and prosperity for all,” informed a CMO press release.
“The Church can be a good platform to educate the people on civic sense and responsibilities,” the Chief Minister opined and pointed out the lack of civic sense on the part of shopkeepers and builders alike who tend to throw their garbage and building materials on the roads, blocking traffic and drains.
“The Church can conduct workshops on sanitation and also create public awareness. During monsoon we see pipelines completely blocking the drains and preventing proper drainage system which turn our roads into open sewers.”
On the proposed Smart City concept to be introduced in Kohima, the Chief Minister said that the government is working “night and day on a war footing” preparing concept notes and improvement of the city so that Kohima makes it to the list of First 20 to be selected throughout the country on a trial basis.
“We have to go for reconstruction of the existing city since we cannot expect to widen the roads. We have to make the best with the possible means at our disposal and the cooperation of the city dwellers is a must.
To my mind, the concept of a Smart City is to have modern conveniences such as proper roads, parking spaces, drainages and proper waste disposal.
“We need to also have crime detection facilities and to this end, we are in the process of installing closed circuit TVs (CCTVs) on an experimental basis in Kohima and Dimapur. The DGP is on the job and it is being proposed that some 200 CCTVs to be installed in Kohima town. In this regard too, we need the cooperation of the building owners to install the cameras at strategic locations.”
Deliberating on some volunteers stopping the BRO workers in carrying out repairs of potholes in the town, the Committee members expressed their unhappiness while the Chief Minister opined that the volunteers should have checked whether the BRO has sanction/work orders to carry out the works.
“I understand the BRO has no sanctions or funds to carry out the works. But on the request of the state government, BRO officials agreed to carry out the much-needed fillings of the potholes in the city. If and when there is sanction/work orders, there will be criteria to be fulfilled by the implementing agencies and then and only it can be verified if required workmanship is being carried out or not,” he said.
NBCC’s Sanitation Committee members briefed the Chief Minister on the works they have been doing over the years in keeping the city clean and green.
