A Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, APRIL 14
Problems about drainage and water-logging remain a perennial challenge for the localities of Dimapur. The supposedly ‘most-advanced’ district in Nagaland still struggles with arrested development even as solution continues to elude the urban township. Citizens’ initiative, however, keeps the municipality going to some extent.
The Notun Bosti Council of Notun Bosti, in Dimapur proper, is trying to tackle one such problem, namely seepage and clogging at the main market area at the Notun Basti junction. Members of the area on Thursday undertook a community initiative to mobilize materials to plaster the market area adjacent to the main road to stave off the clogged drainage. The onset of monsoon season motivated the anxiety to remedy the problem.
The community’s mini-project was initiated by the Notun Basti Council, a council composed of five ‘khels’ namely the Angami khel, Ao khel, Lotha khel, Sumi Khel and the Zeliangrong khel.
The chairman of Notun Basti Council, E Jon Ezung, said that the slight upgrade was undertaken with funds from the council and voluntary contributions from the residents of the colony. They ‘cannot wait for government to come forward,’ he said. The community leader explained that the council had also, over the years, repaired the open passage at the main junction, which connects the five khels.
The locality’s market, straddling the junction itself, was started with the permission from the Dimapur Municipal Council.
During the day’s work, the community filled sunken areas and where water and seepage rested. It was informed that the water and seepage began resting at the intersection of drains a few years ago when work for a central drainage – supposed to have covered the affected area in question – was abandoned abruptly. The project was undertaken by the Public Works Department, it was informed.
During the year 2014-2015, the department is said to have constructed drainages on the other side of the road but presumed to have been constructed without any culvert connecting the opposite side.
During interaction with the community members, it was learned that the department had tried raising the main road connecting Ao khel but the stipulation did not mitigate the problem.
