Deputy Chief Minister, Y Patton inspected flood-hit areas in Dimapur, Chümoukedima and Niuland on July 12.
Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 12
The Deputy Chief Minister, Y Patton hit the flood-inspection trail visiting areas that faced the brunt of the rains that poured in Dimapur, Chümoukedima and Niuland over the past week.
Patton, accompanied by the Deputy Commissioners of the three districts, alongwith top bureaucrats from the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority, inspected eight locations on July 12. The places included Vilhume and SM colonies, Chungaizung in Burma Camp, Purana Bazaar Model colony, the drain that goes through the airport runway at 2 ½ Mile (NH 29), Naga United village, two spots in Niuland district, 5th Mile Model village and Sovima.
Patton told the media, after the inspection, that he has directed the DCs and the police of the three districts to submit “comprehensive reports” to the government to be further assessed by the Cabinet.
He claimed that the government will be giving special importance to Dimapur, Niuland, and Chümoukedima. “We will take care (of it), but I cannot give assurance now, unless we get a report. But we will surely do the needful for the affected areas,” he said.
Over and above the monsoon deluge, human-made obstacles in the course of natural drains have turned out to be a major cause exacerbating the seasonal flooding. In this regard, he “requested” encroachers obstructing drainage to immediately remove their structures.
According to him, achieving clog-free drainage requires collective effort of the community, implying the various villages and urban neighbourhoods. He cited municipal councillors reportedly assuring to demolish structures, built on encroached land or drainage, with the support of the administration and police.
Of late, starting with the Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections, municipal councillors have made it a custom of laying emphasis on clearing clogged drains. He was asked if he was happy with the performance of the ULBs thus far. He replied, “Since they are newly elected, we cannot blame them.” He though maintained that the ULBs should not depend on state government dole-outs alone.
Sinking houses in Seitheke Basa
In the Deputy CM’s itinerary however was missing a segment of Seitheke Basa, where the Chathe river has claimed a few houses, and more on the verge of sinking. He was queried about this, to which he replied that the Deputy Commissioner (Chümoukedima) has visited the affected spot already.
The Chümoukedima DC said that his officers, along with the District Disaster Management officials, have visited the affected families and handed out emergency relief of Rs 10,000 each, in 2024. He added that a detailed damage assessment will be prepared, and submitted to the government. When it would likely be submitted was not specified.
A proposal, reportedly for damage compensation, was submitted last year to the NSDMA. According to the DC, it did not get sanction. Damage compensation in cases of damage or destruction of buildings/property are said to vary from Rs 1 to 2 lakh depending on the magnitude of damage.
Atleast 2-3 families in the affected area have abandoned their homes, this year, after a swollen Chathe river began claiming the soil on which their homes stood. More houses are on the verge of falling into the river.
Locals have attributed it to a river changing course, allegedly after the building of an embankment on the opposite bank, in recent years, for a private recreational facility.
The district disaster management authority has been silent on this allegation, and if there was prior Environmental Impact Assessment.
