(a)The Naga Patient House in Dibrugarh seen inundated by flood. (b) NPH structure in shambles. (c) A room turned into a storage for construction materials. (Photo Courtesy: Naga Student Union Dibrugarh)
Morung Express News
Kohima | July 11
Due to alleged negligence, the Naga Patient House (NPH) in Dibrugarh district of Assam remains in a decrepit state. The building needs to be urgently repaired or even reconstructed, but the Nagaland Government is apparently showing no concern.
In just after a week of rain, the prayer hall and other empty rooms and all belongings of the Naga Christian Fellowship Dibrugarh (NCFD) and Naga Student Union Dibrugarh (NSUD) lie in shambles after the place was inundated with about three feet of water, informed NCFD Pastor, Dr Bendangjungshi. The entire area gets flooded every year as a result of many guises of negligence.
“However huge the area of around 30000 square ft, the dilapidated structures without proper furniture is inhabitable and has become prone to encroachment,” Tali Longchar currently posted as Manager, Engineers India Ltd, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India in Dibrugarh informed The Morung Express.
Completely left under the care of students pursuing medical and allied courses and higher studies along with few families and employees, nothing much could be done rather than to take care of the property and belongings and keep the rundown place clean with limited resources and finance.
The prayer hall, which is the main gathering place for the Naga community in Dibrugarh cannot accommodate even 40 people. “With around 100 members, many sit outside of the hall during services,” the pastor said.
According to a former President of NSUD, Savi Kezieo, the students union had in the past sought interventions on the issue by writing to the concerned department several times and also delegated student representatives to meet officials in Kohima. However, no action or interest has been taken so far.
The NSUD had then pointed out to the Public Works Department (Housing), along with images that the existing rooms, kitchens and toilets are in dilapidated condition and without any drainage making the area unhygienic and inundated. Local contractors there were also taking advantage of the compound by occupying the area with construction materials and machineries; also occupying rooms illegally.
Citing an instance, former NSUD president Khuvishe Swu said it was only due to collective effort of the students and some employees that a local family occupying some rooms for many years without paying rent could be vacated this year in April.
The NPH is believed to be more than six decades old and was bought by the state government in the present structure. There are 12 rooms, a hall, 4 kitchens at the NPH, it is but feared that in the coming years, the buildings may not be able to withstand weather conditions like flood and severe storm due to the weakening foundation.
“Repair or renovation will not aid the persisting problem,” Tali also noted. Land filling, drainage and proper constructions were suggested.
The NPH which lies close to the Assam Medical College and all prominent private hospitals and clinics specializing in urology, ophthalmology, cancer, dermatology, psychiatry and others has but belied its name and purpose to provide shelter and lodging to those coming from nearby places especially Mokokchung district and the Eastern Nagaland districts.
If the state government and concerned department take cognizance and take action, many remain to be profited, especially the Naga public. It will prove extremely beneficial for low income families coming for medical needs and at the same time bring decent revenue for the state government.
