Blame it on the rains? A garbage littered road leading to GHSS, Nagarjan on Friday, June 17. Further ahead floodwaters overflow the road upto to the school. (Morung Photo)
Dimapur | June 17 : Come the monsoons, it’s the same old story here in Dimapur. The overnight rains may have come as a respite from the draining heat of June, yet it brought forth the all too familiar – flood. And thanks to the poor drainage system or rather the lack of it several low lying pockets of the town went underwater, for the second time in less the two weeks.
The only government higher secondary school in town located at Nagarjan and several other localities bore the brunt of the previous night’s thunder shower. Students and staffers of GHSS, Nagarjan were, literally greeted by a flood of garbage and overflowing storm water this morning, forcing the principal to suspend classes for the day. The school’s lower classes are currently in the midst of mid-term exams.
A blocked drain and not the rains was however to blame. The culprit turned out to be a free flowing drainage cutting through the breadth of the road leading to the school. According to a staffer, this particular drain flows towards Super Market after by-passing Fisheries Colony. The construction of a new marketing shed behind Naga Shopping Arcade (near the bus stand), it appears, is preventing the water from flowing away.
The school’s principal further expressed strong displeasure over the dumping of household waste from the surrounding residential homes, right in the middle of the road leading to the school. The deluge, this morning was greatly aggravated by the rubbish from the ‘makeshift’ garbage dump, which got carried into the school’s compound by the overflowing water. The principal said that the school on several occasions has requested concerned persons in the locality to look into the matter. However, it turned out the wastes are disposed there on the sly. They expressed helplessness citing the garbage gets thrown there only in the dark of night, the principal said. So much for being called modernized, indeed.
Not far away from the school, Fisheries colony was a sight to behold. Homes were seen with water flowing up to the window sills. The department in concern will have to consider shifting the fishponds as well as the staff quarters somewhere, so long as the drainage problem is not solved. In the middle of town, same was the plight at ‘Dhobinullah’. Once again, as it has been for ages, the town’s most reliable natural drain overflowed. Towards MST Road (near Khermahal) houses build along the drain’s edges got inundated. These are only a few of the many areas that went underwater today, only if space permits can go on describing the other affected areas as well. With the powers that be forever remaining apathetic, it will come as no surprise when a similar state befalls the town the next monsoon, which is only beginning.
Year after year, gloomy pictures and reports of the aftereffects of the monsoons make front page news. On the part of the local dailies ample coverage is provided in the hope that something positive would come out of it. Disappointingly, it has come to naught and Friday’s scene in Dimapur speaks for itself.
The authorities in concern, no doubt, would blame it on the haphazard town planning and the lack of ‘civic sense’ on the part of the public. The argument holds ground, but is that an excuse for remaining unresponsive?
The only government higher secondary school in town located at Nagarjan and several other localities bore the brunt of the previous night’s thunder shower. Students and staffers of GHSS, Nagarjan were, literally greeted by a flood of garbage and overflowing storm water this morning, forcing the principal to suspend classes for the day. The school’s lower classes are currently in the midst of mid-term exams.
A blocked drain and not the rains was however to blame. The culprit turned out to be a free flowing drainage cutting through the breadth of the road leading to the school. According to a staffer, this particular drain flows towards Super Market after by-passing Fisheries Colony. The construction of a new marketing shed behind Naga Shopping Arcade (near the bus stand), it appears, is preventing the water from flowing away.
The school’s principal further expressed strong displeasure over the dumping of household waste from the surrounding residential homes, right in the middle of the road leading to the school. The deluge, this morning was greatly aggravated by the rubbish from the ‘makeshift’ garbage dump, which got carried into the school’s compound by the overflowing water. The principal said that the school on several occasions has requested concerned persons in the locality to look into the matter. However, it turned out the wastes are disposed there on the sly. They expressed helplessness citing the garbage gets thrown there only in the dark of night, the principal said. So much for being called modernized, indeed.
Not far away from the school, Fisheries colony was a sight to behold. Homes were seen with water flowing up to the window sills. The department in concern will have to consider shifting the fishponds as well as the staff quarters somewhere, so long as the drainage problem is not solved. In the middle of town, same was the plight at ‘Dhobinullah’. Once again, as it has been for ages, the town’s most reliable natural drain overflowed. Towards MST Road (near Khermahal) houses build along the drain’s edges got inundated. These are only a few of the many areas that went underwater today, only if space permits can go on describing the other affected areas as well. With the powers that be forever remaining apathetic, it will come as no surprise when a similar state befalls the town the next monsoon, which is only beginning.
Year after year, gloomy pictures and reports of the aftereffects of the monsoons make front page news. On the part of the local dailies ample coverage is provided in the hope that something positive would come out of it. Disappointingly, it has come to naught and Friday’s scene in Dimapur speaks for itself.
The authorities in concern, no doubt, would blame it on the haphazard town planning and the lack of ‘civic sense’ on the part of the public. The argument holds ground, but is that an excuse for remaining unresponsive?
