A 450-metre stretch of clogged cross drains in Kohima, unattended for over a decade, has been cleared through a joint effort involving the district administration, PWD (NH), Midland Colony and other stakeholders.
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KOHIMA — A 450-metre stretch of clogged cross drains in the heart of Kohima town, left unattended for more than a decade, has finally been cleared following a joint effort by the district administration, PWD (NH), Midland colony and other stakeholders.
The drains, stretching from Box Cutting to the World War II Cemetery, had remained clogged for over 10 years, causing water to overflow onto the road and flow towards the New Market area.
Deputy Commissioner Kohima B Henok Buchem said the situation had become urgent, prompting the district administration and stakeholders to undertake the clearance work.
Three main cross drains leading towards Midland were cleared recently, allowing water to flow freely.
However, shortly after the drains were cleared, waste including empty bottles and plastic materials was found dumped in the newly cleaned channels.
Buchem appealed to citizens not to throw waste into drains or along roadsides and urged them to use designated dustbins.
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Executive Engineer, PWD (NH), Mukam Yimchunger said the department had been working on the cross-drainage system for more than a week.
He said the long-pending blockage could finally be cleared through the collective efforts of the stakeholders.
Yimchunger added that regular maintenance by the contractor, M/s S Semp & Co., along with greater public responsibility, would be essential to prevent the drains from becoming clogged again.
Chairman of Midland Council Kohima, Menuokholie Kire, said the clogged drains had become a major problem not only for Midland residents but also for the wider town area, particularly New Market, where overflowing water had been causing concern.
Following a series of meetings at the Deputy Commissioner's office, stakeholders agreed to clear the three main drainage channels flowing towards Midland.
The work was carried out with the support of the contractor, colony youth, PWD (NH), district administration and other stakeholders.
Kire said the clearance would ensure smoother passage of water and urged residents to take greater responsibility for waste management.
With Kohima being developed as a smart city, he appealed to the public and every household to adopt responsible waste-disposal practices and help keep the town's drainage system clean.
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