Dimapur, August 16: The deputy commissioner of Dimapur is asked to strictly enforce the ban on river bed mining in Dimapur considering that dangers are being posed to the livelihood and lives of people living along river bodies.
Mining form ‘riverbed’ in Nagaland needs to be regulated to mitigate damage to lands and river systems, a local politician has suggested.
Mining riverbeds for construction materials such as sand, gravel and boulders is causing a threat to the people especially those living near rivers, N Jacob Zhimomi, parliamentary secretary for Irrigation and Flood Control was quoted as having said during a recent visit to a village. The statement was contained in a press release issued to the media on Tuesday. The parliamentary secretary is said to have “visited the collapsed suspension bridge” between Seitheke Basa and Sodzulhou villages in Dimapur Tuesday morning.
“Excavation of river beds for collecting materials such as sand gravel and boulders for construction purposes is causing a threat to livelihood of the people especially those living near the river,” the press release quoted him.
Zhimomi was stated as having said that “rampant excavation of the river beds have badly effected (sic) the natural river systems and as a result of which rivers are rapidly changing it’s (sic) course and thereby causing massive soil erosion, he reiterated that river bed excavation should be regulated so as to avoid further threat to the people.”
In this connection, the politician has reportedly “directed deputy commissioner Dimapur to enforce strict ban on river bed excavation.” Also, he reportedly urged the villages located close to the rivers ‘not to lease out river beds for excavation,’ the press release stated.
He is also said to have interacted with the villagers of Seitheke Basa after inspecting the collapsed bridge. The parliamentary secretary expressed concern for the villagers and gave a sum of Rs. one lakh as relief for restoration of suspension bridge, the press release stated.
He had also made a contribution of Rs. one lakh fifty thousand for the renovation of said bridge.
As appealed by the villagers, he assured to take up the matter during November-December ‘to erect river embankments along the affected areas,’ the press release said.
The department in concern is trying it’s best to provide relief to adversely affected villages, it stated.
The bridge collapsed reportedly on the night of August 12 after the bank on which the main structure stood was swept away by strong currents.
