The City Tower junction wears a deserted look after the district administration and police called for a complete shutdown of the town on June 8. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 8
Dimapur district administration’s order to close shops/markets as well as police’s order on restriction of vehicular movement from 9 am till midnight of June 8 in view of arrival of Special Train from Gujarat/Maharashtra drew flak from different sections of the society describing it as a reflection on the lack of coordination causing huge public inconvenience.
“Already days ahead the authorities informed that the Special Train is arriving today, and since the train timing keeps on changing, the authorities could have updated the status of the train and the latest excepted time of arrival before issuing closure orders. I have already booked a mechanic to repair my vehicle today since I have to go to Wokha tomorrow to bring back a patient. But the plan has been delayed,” said Pithungo, a permanent resident of Dimapur.
Another citizen who preferred to be identified only as BK said, “If the train was in NJP, West Bengal this morning then it means the train was still far away from Dimapur when the administration issued order last night. And this means there is lack of coordination among the officials assigned for various duties otherwise there was no need at all for entire day closure.” BK said he was supposed to visit an ailing relative within the town on June 8.
A local trader running a stationery shop in a certain locality said that even a single day closure affects business especially small shops like his. He was of the view that the authorities should meticulously collect information before ordering total closure of markets. “I support the government in this fight against the pandemic but the train is arriving at night and whole day closure is unwarranted,” the trader added.
Imtirenla, a housewife who was supposed to do grocery shopping on Monday said, “I’m sure the administration was already aware by this morning that the train would be delayed by 10 hours or so. At least, the closure could have been eased during the day time for public convenience by issuing order in the first hour on Monday and circulating it on social media and the Publicity Department (IPR) could also have been used for similar announcement throughout the localities.”
A prominent social worker on condition of anonymity said that the entire administrative mechanism should track all incoming trains and issue appropriate directives so as not to cause any problem to the public as they have faced enough problems since the beginning of the lockdown. “The flip-flop of orders issued prior to arrival of train from Bengaluru should have been a lesson but again today also the situation was handled in a worse manner. I hope the administration pulls up its socks,” he added.
.jpg)
