DIMAPUR, JUNE 16: Five neighboring colonies in the vicinity of Dimapur Railway Station namely Railway Bazaar, Chatteswari Colony, Manipuri Colony and West Yard Colony have threatened to launch agitation in the form of blockade on railway services.
The proposed agitation is to protest the ‘indifferent attitude of the Dimapur railway authority towards the plight of the residents’ specifically in that the areas in question continue to be submerged. This is said to be causing huge loss in properties.
The areas have been submerged following heavy rain since beginning of June thereby causing huge loss on properties and cattle. Residents informed visiting media persons Thursday that many have developed nauseating sensation, vomiting, itchiness and other diseases following stagnation of stale water.
Crux of the contention was clogging of the only underground drainage across the railway track which has caused inundation in the areas following long years of negligence. Residents informed that it has become a persistent phenomenon for the public of the area after every rain since the last two decades.
Ironically, it was reported that railway authority began the work only three days ago even as the residents have been attempting to drain out the water for over ten days. It was learned that railway authority had deputed two ground mover vehicles (JCB) assisted by personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the residents.
Residents have demanded construction of open drainage system beneath the railway track, which seemingly is impractical for now. Residents also informed that they had served ultimatum to the railway authority to clear the clogged drain or face the public ire.
The Parliamentary Secretary for Municipal Affairs and Economic and Statistics, R Tohanba, on Thursday inspected the ongoing clearing works of the clogged drainage at Railway Bazaar and also interacted with residents affected and displaced by inundation.
The parliamentary secretary was accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer of the Dimapur Municipal Council, Atokhe Ayemi, SDO (C) Moa Sangtam, and officials of the Municipal Affairs, besides police officials.
Tohanba appealed to the residents to have patience as the Municipal Affairs department, the district administration and the Dimapur Municipal Council were ‘trying their best to mitigate their problems.’
Tohanba reminded that the main cause of clogged drainage and narrowing of drains was due to land encroachment. He said the administration, DMC, police and Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority are jointly coordinating with the Railways in clearing the clogged drainage.
On Thursday morning, officials of the Health & Family Welfare department visited the affected areas and spread DDT and undertook other measures to check outbreak of malaria and other water-borne diseases.
