Fresh flooding hits Dimapur despite drainage clearance drives, affecting households and renewing calls for lasting flood-control measures
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DIMAPUR — Dimapur witnessed fresh flooding on Sunday morning despite weeks of drainage clearance drives undertaken by Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF), district administration, District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) Dimapur and community stakeholders ahead of the monsoon.
Several localities experienced waterlogging following the rainfall, with Namgalong colony Ward 5 in Burma Camp among the worst affected areas.
Around 30 households were affected after floodwater reportedly rose to chest level in some locations.
Residents said that water remained stagnant till evening due to clogged drains. Jenpu Rongmei, council secretary of Namgalong colony, whose house was also affected by the flooding, said that residents of the area have been facing similar situations every monsoon for the past 20 years.
While acknowledging the ongoing drainage clearance efforts, he stressed the need for long-term solutions to address recurring floods in th
e commercial hub.
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Rongmei advocated proper urban planning, enforcement against encroachments, scientific waste management and investment in modern flood-control technologies.
According to him, drainage clearance alone would not provide a lasting solution, particularly in flood-prone areas where drainage systems are affected by encroachment and other structural issues.
He, however, lauded the cleanliness drive undertaken by the district administration, DUCCF, DDMA and the GB Union Dimapur (Sardar), describing it as a timely intervention ahead of the monsoon season when blocked drains often contribute to flooding.
“I appreciate the proactive efforts for public welfare and safety. It reflects responsible, community-oriented leadership,” he said, while reiterating the need for long-term planning, including the construction of check dams in vulnerable areas.
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DUCCF president Zasivikho Zakiesato, who was engaged in drainage clearance work on Sunday, said that observations from the field indicated that water flow had improved compared to previous years.
He added that debris was being cleared more efficiently from drainage channels, although some drains remained clogged.
According to Zakiesato, the federation has been deploying six to seven teams daily, working from 8 am to 4 pm as part of the ongoing drainage clearance exercise.
He noted that several low-lying areas continue to remain highly vulnerable to flooding even after relatively light rainfall.
The situation, he said, is further aggravated by encroachments that obstruct drainage channels and make large-scale clearance operations difficult.
Without public cooperation and responsible waste disposal practices, authorities alone would not be able to effectively address the challenge of flood prevention, he added.
During visits to affected areas, it was observed that strainers installed across upstream nullahs in certain locations were helping prevent garbage and other debris from entering and clogging drainage channels.
The flooding comes less than two weeks after Chief Secretary Sentiyanger Imchen visited several flood-affected and flood-prone areas in Dimapur and East Dimapur on May 18 to review flood preparedness measures.
During the visit, the chief secretary had stated that the government would move towards enforcing household-level waste segregation as part of efforts to improve waste management and reduce flood risks in the district.
He had directed that segregation of waste into biodegradable and non-biodegradable categories be implemented at the household level without delay and indicated that the government would issue the necessary orders.
He had also stated that municipal bodies would be held directly accountable for solid waste management.