Telecom firm accused of negligence in damaging Dimapur's vertical garden

• DIMAPUR — In what has been described as a case of corporate negligence, a private telecom company has allegedly caused damage to the vertical garden near the old Dhansiri Bridge and Urban Haat in Dimapur—and failed to carry out promised repair works despite repeated reminders.

The damaged pavement at the vertical garden near the old Dhansiri Bridge and Urban Haat.

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• The vertical garden, a part of Dimapur’s beautification initiative, was inaugurated in May 2023 under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change’s National Clean Air Programme.
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• It was locally executed by Team Better Dimapur in collaboration with the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC), Nagaland Pollution Control Board, and Inner Wheel Club.

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• According to Mhonjan Humtsoe, president of Team Better Dimapur, the telecom company dug up a section of the concrete pavement at the site nearly a month ago to lay communication lines. Since then, the affected road section has caved in, compromising both infrastructure and aesthetics.
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• Despite being informed about the damage, the company has neither acknowledged its role nor acted on its earlier assurance to repair the site, said Humtsoe. Instead, it has denied responsibility and ignored follow-up communications, even those sent through official channels, he added.
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• He expressed concern over the lack of accountability, particularly because the vertical garden was officially handed over to the Better Dimapur team for adoption and maintenance by DMC.
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• Terming the response from the telecom company “lackadaisical and irresponsible,” Humtsoe appealed to the firm concerned to urgently take responsibility and carry out the necessary repair work.