The road leading to Nagarjan in Dimapur has become a clogged basin, posing a threat to pedestrians, the sick, women in maternity and vehicles. (Photo by Akhrienuo Kire)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 23
The road leading to Nagarjan in Dimapur has become a ‘Gigantic Basin.’ With heavy rainfall, one of the busiest streets in Dimapur has accumulated water as a result of pits, potholes and improper storm drains. This has led to safety hazard not just for vehicles but also, particularly, pedestrians.
“The poor road condition had prevented people from attending church services. There are about eight churches in Nagarjan. Autos cannot fare. Also it has become impossible for the pedestrians to walk in the main junction of Nagarjan and people who are in need of immediate medical attention cannot travel in this poor road condition,” said Kari Walling, an auto rickshaw driver.
To get around this, autorickshaws and other vehicles have taken to plying on the footpath. There have been instances of engines failing in the area where water has accumulated.
An interaction with Kuda Village Council Ex. Chairperson (Nagarjan), Alhoulie Belho, pitched on the poor road condition in Nagarjan. “The road condition is deteriorating drastically, inconvenient for the pedestrians, the sick and women in maternity. There are high risks for school children with vehicles encountering accidents.”
He informed that the road has been neglected and left unrepaired for almost 5 years by the Nagaland State government.
The Village Council, with the recommendation of a concerned MLA, had sought assistance from the Urban Development Department, but no aid was given, reportedly due to the lack of capital.
In 2011 and 2012, the Council, with the help of well wishers, youth organisations and concerned citizens got together several times to fill the pits and pot holes. In 2013, through negotiations with the PWD (Roads and Bridges) Department, the Council took the initiative to repair the road to some extent. The expenditure made by the Council was compensated by the Department. Belho further informed that the area that has become a clogged basin falls under the purview of the Dimapur Municipal Council.
Heavy rainfall combined with “improper maintenance” of the drainage system by the municipal authorities is a major reason for the accumulation of water, said the Ex Chairperson. Again in 2014, the Council sought aid from the government; however there was no positive response this time. Recently, in March 2016, the PWD engineer with his colleagues met some of the village elders with regards to repair and maintenance of the road but no clear cut information has been relayed to them yet.
“We are being tolerant and patient for a government response. But if the government does not revert back in time, necessary action with be taken by the Council and elders for the repairing of our roads and we appeal the government not to be agitated by it,” he summarised.
“Past, Present and Future... Nagarjan road remains the same,” said Chemrila, a citizen of the locality. Everyday people holding high posts, government authorities ply on the same road. Despite this, no attention has been paid to the maintenance of roads even in Nagaland’s commercial capital, Dimapur.
Reporting by Akhrienuo Kire who is currently an intern at The Morung Express.
