New DMC Office. (Morung Photo)
Expresses concern over ‘internal conflict’ disrupting Dimapur civic governance
Dimapur, January 28 (MExN): The Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF) has expressed “grave concern” over a reported “internal conflict” within the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC), cautioning that the strife has severely disrupted civic governance, stalled the growth of Dimapur and spilled into the public domain.
The DUCCF media cell in a press statement mentioned a recent portfolio reshuffle initiated by the DMC Chairman as a “necessary and well-intentioned corrective step” aimed at restoring transparency, fiscal discipline and administrative efficiency.
However, it noted that resistance to such reforms by certain councillors, particularly those entrusted with revenue-generating portfolios, raises serious questions about accountability, integrity, and the handling of public funds.
The federation regretted that opposition for its own sake has become a tradition in Nagaland's politics but asserted such conduct has no place in civic governance where people’s livelihoods and city development are at stake.
It stated that internal power struggles, factionalism and the deliberate obstruction of administrative reforms are directly responsible for paralysing the DMC's functioning. This paralysis, it noted, has resulted in the “non-payment of salaries to municipal employees and the stagnation of developmental works in Dimapur.”
The DUCCF highlighted a critical financial discrepancy, stating it is an “open and undeniable fact” that crore of rupees are collected from various revenue-generating areas within the municipal jurisdiction. However, “these revenues have not proportionately reflected in the government treasury, civic development, or workers’ wages.”
The federation claimed to have on record the revenues generated before the 2023 Municipal elections. It firmly believes that honest remittance and transparent management of these funds, “Dimapur would not be facing its present pathetic civic condition.”
The DUCCF, therefore, made a series of strong demands and appeals. It has called upon the state’s Municipal Affairs Department to initiate a thorough scrutiny and inquiry into the revenue collection and remittance by the concerned councillors. It demanded immediate accountability from councillors holding key portfolios and the receipt endorsed to them, whether it is a department authorised receipt of a “self-styled” one. The federation also insisted that an audit should be functional in every financial year.
The DUCCF appealed to all DMC councillors to cease obstructionist politics that prioritizes personal interest and work for the public welfare as committed to the people. It urged them to stand firmly for transparency, peace, and responsible governance, emphasising that “Dimapur deserves leadership driven by integrity and service—not internal vendetta and financial opacity.”
