Morung Express News
Mokokchung | July 9
Nagaland Minister for Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, Metsubo Jamir today expressed dismay and concern that Mokokchung, supposedly the cleanest town in Nagaland, was ranked at a lowly 57th position in the cleanest town in North East India zonal category as per the national survey conducted by Swachh Survekshan.
“This is a very serious issue. I had always thought that Mokokchung was a very clean town. Much remains to be done,” he said. Jamir said this while interacting with media persons at his private residence in Mokokchung. Earlier in the day, he had a closed-door meeting with Ao Senden before attending the monthly Mokokchung DPDB meeting.
Speaking on the aspect of cleanliness, Jamir said that he would like to kick start awareness campaign and have interactions with the public. He also expressed concern about Mokokchung’s growing traffic congestion woes and said that it was now time to consider possibilities for introducing ‘one-way traffic’ routes.
He also suggested that entrepreneurs should introduce public transport bus service to ease traffic congestion. Jamir also said that there were plans to develop parking lots in the town and hinted at transforming the old town hall premises into a parking lot cum commercial complex.
Jamir maintained that the town’s beautification and public safety and convenience were his main concerns. He disclosed that barricades would be erected at the accident-prone area along the NH2 stretch at Tongdentsüyong Ward. He also said that there were plans to develop three recreation parks in the town, the proposed sites being PWD Garage area at Sungkomen Ward, PHED Reservoir area at Sangtemla Ward and revamping the P. Shilu Ao Memorial Park. He also said that each ward should have an open public space but regretted that urban congestion has rendered it almost impossible.
The Minister also suggested that Mokokchung town should “spread out” to ease congestion and expressed hope that the proposed Khensa-Chuchuyimpang link road should help the process. On being asked if he had any alternative plans to do away with the archaic outdoor concrete dumping sites located along the main roads which is not only hazardous to public health but also an eyesore to any observer, he said that he would look into the matter. He also invited suggestions and ideas from the public for beautification and cleanliness of Mokokchung town.
He disclosed that the primary purpose of his visit to Mokokchung today was about the mini-Hornbill Festival scheduled to be held in conjunction with Tsüngremmong Festival later in the month of August.
The Minister also toured around Mokokchung town and visited some of the landslide and accident-prone areas as well as Mokokchung Law College, IGP (Range) Mokokchung office and the old town hall premises. He also visited the DC Office to Circuit House road stretch that has been proposed for widening.
