PWD to demolish footpaths for drainage construction

Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, April 20: The road construction project currently in progress in Dimapur appears to have—albeit inadvertently—dug up an old and unpleasant pickle involving two government agencies.

On Saturday, a reliable source from the Public Works Department (PWD) informed Eastern Mirror that the department would be demolishing some footpaths in different locations of Dimapur in order to construct drainages.

Some of the footpaths, among others, causing obstruction to the PWD were said to be in Tajen Ao Road and Nagarjan Junction, opposite the Town Hall. According to the source, the department involved in the construction of those footpaths had neither informed nor consulted the PWD prior to their construction.

“Side drains have to be made but the footpaths have been constructed where the drainages are meant to be. So we will be demolishing some of them,” said the source, adding that there was no other option.

If the drainages are constructed without demolishing the footpaths, according to the PWD source, the roads will get narrower. Once the drainages are constructed, the PWD will “redo” the footpaths demolished.

“The department that constructed the footpaths should have consulted and informed the PWD so that prior notice would have been given,” said the source.

However, an official from the Urban Development department asserted that during construction of footpaths ‘sufficient space’ was left to allow construction of drainage. “The PWD can do a survey once to see that space is left for side drains (sic) to be constructed,” the official said, adding that even before construction of footpaths the existing drains were cleaned to ensure they are not clogged.

Also, according to the mission director of Amrut, Nagaland under Urban Development, a state-level technical committee meeting was held prior to the construction of footpaths which was attended by HODs and chief engineers concerned.

“As per guidelines, the urban local bodies have to send a list of schemes that can be attained under Amrut; and only after consulting with the heads (of department) we go ahead with the construction,” the mission director informed.