Dimapur gets new burial ground

Minister G Kaito Aye along with other dignitaries, officials and NCD members at the inauguration of the New Naga Cemetery at Zani Village area on July 1. (Morung Photo)

Minister G Kaito Aye along with other dignitaries, officials and NCD members at the inauguration of the New Naga Cemetery at Zani Village area on July 1. (Morung Photo)

New Naga Cemetery inaugurated at Zani Village area

 

Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 1


The pressing need for a burial place in the likely event of deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic has sped up the completion of the New Naga Cemetery at Zani Village area in the outskirts of Dimapur.


On July 1, Minister for Agriculture and Cooperation, G Kaito Aye, inaugurated the new cemetery; fifteen years after Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio donated a plot of land measuring 18 bighas to the Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) for setting up of a cemetery.


While development works at the site had been going on at a snail’s pace over the past 15 years due to paucity of fund, the State Government on April 5, 2020, advised the NCD to complete the works within one month “pertaining to the COVID-19 burial case,” stated NCD vice president-cum-convenor of New Cemetery Development Project, K Ghokheto Chophy.


He also gave a brief report on the cemetery project.


Chophy informed that the 5th block has been reserved in case of any COVID-19 causalities. He also informed that public in general will not be allowed to bury at least for two  to three months since it is yet to be designed


NCD especially thanked Niholu Ayemi, OSD to the state Transport minister for donating Rs15 lakh for construction of entrance gate of the cemetery and earth filling works. 


NCD also said it was through Ayemi’s initiative that the council was able to raise another Rs 40 lakh from well wishers and donors for construction of the boundary wall. The other donors who contributed Rs 5 lakh each during 2019-20 include Agriculture Minister, Kaito Aye; Transport Minister, Paiwang Konyak; RD Minister, Metsubo Jamir; Tribal Affairs Minister, Temjen Imna Along; Advisor Power, Tovihoto Ayemi; DGP Nagaland, T John Longkumer; H Samson Ayemi (C-in-C Naga Army) and O Mangilal Jain & Sons.


Earlier in 2008, Sethi and family constructed and donated the funeral chapel hall. The then Chief Minister, TR Zeliang, also sanctioned Rs 10 lakh in 2015 for power line connection, installation of transformer and chowkidar house and then DC Dimapur, Kesonyu Yhome, also sanctioned Rs 1 lakh, Chophy said.


As per the cemetery project report, the burial site covers a carpet area of 25,900 sq ft. 


Earlier, pastor Konyak Baptist Church Dimapur, Rev Lonlong Konyak, offered dedicatory prayer and NCD president, T Bangerloba, delivered the welcome address.


Advisor, Power, Tovihoto Ayemi and DC Dimapur, Anoop Khinchi, also addressed the inaugural programme.

 

Guidelines and specifications of the New Naga Cemetery 

•    The width and breadth of each burial will be 3x7 ft
•    Graves should be dug 6 ft below ground level
•    Tomb construction shall be allowed only up to 1ft above ground level (uniform)
•    Each tomb (burial site) shall have a distance of 1ft on both sides
•    The rules set by NCD with respect to the New Naga Cemetery shall be final and binding