Appeals CM to ‘save Kohima City’
Kohima, August 13 (MExN): Are the disasters unfolding in Nagaland State natural or human made? Joining more voices reflected in The Morung Express Poll published on Sunday, August 12, the Kohima Village Youth Organization (KVYO) has now stated that “While incessant rain is indeed responsible, it also needs to be questioned whether (hu)man-made disaster is also responsible to a large extent.”
In a representation to the Chief Minister of Nagaland, the KVYO maintained in its pertinent point that, “Although the heavy rain takes the blame for creating landslides, other important factors such as poor workmanship, improper planning, lack of technical expertise, lack of proper supervision by Engineers and Corruption at the Department, Government and political level must also take blame.”
The KVYO stressed that unless the ministers, contractors, BRO/GREF/ PWD/ Roads and Bridges Department “take their job seriously,” no matter “heavy rain or no rain,” Kohima will “never see the light of day.”
The Organization urged the Government of Nagaland to “make a concerted effort of all the departments to pool the resources together to mitigate, prevent and contain such (hu)man-made disaster in future to save Kohima City.”
This was stated in a representation to the Chief Minister through KVYO President, Dzüvinguzo Mepfhüo, and General Secretary, Vizoneilie Pienyü today hoping for the CM’s timely intervention on the matter.
The Organisation reminded the CM how incessant rain has caused hardship to the people across the state. “This unprecedented downpour has displaced many families, damaged buildings, wrecked terrace field and other cultivations. A multitude of roads has been destroyed due to sinking and landslides consequently leading to road blockages, thereby causing misery and devastation in Kohima and beyond.”
Calling for the CM’s intervention, the KVYO urged the Government of Nagaland to “immediately repair the major lifelines in and around Kohima and also construct the Sanuorü Bridge at the earliest.”
Unacceptable state of Kohima
The KVYO found it “unacceptable” that Nagaland State capital is “at this scale of sorry state wherein, the most important lifelines are not taken as top priority; where policy makers either blame lack of funds or divert the fund and ply everyday over uncountable potholes with their luxurious cars; contractors blame daylight robbery and lipstick the roads that lasts only for few months; and the BRO/GREF blames the centre or the meagre allotted funds.”
Given this scenario, the KVYO, like other social organizations in Nagaland aided by machinery support from wellwishers and PWD, “did temporary repairing of all blocked roads leading to the State’s secretariat besides aiding the traffic personals.”
The Organization informed that it also cleared all existing in-routes and circular roads under its jurisdiction (Kohima Village) for all commuters “thereby lightening the miseries of the denizens to an extent and is still ready to assist the Government in whatever way possible.”
Meanwhile, the Organization appreciated the Government of Nagaland for “running pillar to post to avail financial assistance from Central Government” and hoped that the assistance “truly serves the purpose for which it was granted-the public and affected roads.”
