Vishü Rita Krocha
Every year, Nagaland bears the same story of monsoon disasters. The cycle of destruction that follows relentless heavy rainfall continues to repeat itself.
From rockfall to landslide tragedies, we are witness to a dramatic increase in the number of natural disasters. Every year, we see and experience the changing pattern of nature and climate.
Especially when monsoon arrives, there is often worry written over the faces of the citizens. Farmers are worried that their crops would fail if the rain came too early, too late, too much or too little. People who find themselves having to travel from one place to another, are worried about the already deplorable condition of our roads that are made worse by monsoon in Nagaland.
In one way or the other, everything and everyone is affected by monsoon disasters in Nagaland. A patient, a farmer, a student, a professional, a businessman, everybody. It disrupts normal life in multiple ways including the disruption of seemingly least important tasks that could have been carried out normally but are put on hold because of various factors related to monsoon disasters.
While minor monsoon disruptions have now come across as annual occurences, and even expected in a way, the precious lives we have lost to Monsoon Disasters should serve as a wakeup call for our state. In recent times, the Mon Landslide Tragedy has emerged as one of the most painful lessons.
Naga people have always shared a deep bond with nature, that they could even proudly claim to have lived alongside nature. But we have also seen how this very natural environment has borne the brunt of deforestation and urbanization.
We have polluted our rivers and beautiful valleys, even without thinking that our actions would one day lead to disastrous consequences. We have also seen the increasing number of places across Nagaland, where quarrying is being undertaken.
Natural disasters are a lot more connected to human activity than we might think and taking care of nature is extremely vital because healthy ecosystems are our strongest natural shields against extreme weather and environmental emergencies.
The recurring cycle of monsoon destruction should also remind us of the delicate balance between nature and human activities and the crucial need for the government of the day to prioritise safeguarding the state's ecological integrity to further ensure the safety and wellbeing of its people.
This is a guest editorial by Vishü Rita Krocha. She is the Publisher of PenThrill Publication and a senior journalist based in Kohima.
