Who is to be blamed? Bad weather or poor construction: A collapsed bridge located between Ura Village and Bade, Dimapur after overnight rains damaged the structure on Monday, July 11 (Morung Photos)
Dimapur | July 11 : Despite claims of being a “developing” state, Nagaland’s economic potentials is stifled by potholed roadways, rickety and collapsing bridges, and power supply so unreliable that many office buildings and homes run their generators to make sure the lights stay on. While our counterparts have moved beyond the common “power, roads and water” agenda, we are still trying to reset or repave existing infrastructure. Even under these circumstances, with crores of rupees spent, successive governments’ have remained defensive about the issue.
Bridge collapse in Dimapur, Dhansiripar area cut off
All across Nagaland, the poor quality of workmanship in construction of roads and bridges have become visible. Monday morning witnessed the collapse of yet another bridge connecting Dimapur to Dhansiripar sub-division including Bade village. The bridge, located between Ura village and Bade, collapsed around 7 a.m. taking down about 10 meters of the bitumen topped road on both sides with it. The electric wire running across the bridge has also been damaged. The only means of road communication to Dhansiripar area has been completely cut off. Vehicles including goods carriers and autorickshaws on their way to Dhansiripar area had to return. Vehicles on the other side were also stranded. People were seen using a boat on the river to cross to the other side.
According to a farmer living in Ura village, he heard a big sound around 7 a.m. and came rushing to the spot. There he found that the bridge was collapsing while some people were crossing over. In a few minutes thereafter, the bridge as well as huge mass of land collapsed completely. However, nobody was injured. The bridge is said to be only 10 years old, and river running beneath the bridge is just about 7 meters wide. The farmer informed that the bridge had been eroding for years and the recent monsoon may have been the last blow. Judging by the extent of damage, it is likely to take a very long time to restore the bridge. The villages have no alternate road to ply except towards Jalukie side which is said to be in terrible condition.
Building quality assets in Nagaland is rare. On inspecting the site, this Reporter along with some villagers found that the only 5 mm iron rods have been used in construction of the bridge. While the upper structure is more or less intact, the pillars supporting the bridge are crushed completely.
Along the same road only a few meters before reaching the damaged site, another portion is on the verge of being completely washed away due to soil erosion. Likewise, most of Nagaland’s transport communication is wearing off. It is no longer confined to the “backward” regions alone. Dimapur and Kohima roads are as bad- corroded and filled with dangerous potholes. And judging by the quality, it is hard to believe that construction materials for roads and bridges are being tested at the research laboratory cell under the department of public works which is mandatory.
Civil engineering is considered on of the most important professions in the world. What has become of civil engineering in our state is another matter altogether. Plus the need for construction workers to be registered with the government so that quality is ensured has not been felt by the state. Only recently the Department of Labour is working on a Building and Other Construction Workers Act, which is probably going to take some time to implement. There are various other reasons that Nagaland has struggled to build infrastructure, including poor planning, political meddling and outright corruption.
Bridge collapse in Dimapur, Dhansiripar area cut off
All across Nagaland, the poor quality of workmanship in construction of roads and bridges have become visible. Monday morning witnessed the collapse of yet another bridge connecting Dimapur to Dhansiripar sub-division including Bade village. The bridge, located between Ura village and Bade, collapsed around 7 a.m. taking down about 10 meters of the bitumen topped road on both sides with it. The electric wire running across the bridge has also been damaged. The only means of road communication to Dhansiripar area has been completely cut off. Vehicles including goods carriers and autorickshaws on their way to Dhansiripar area had to return. Vehicles on the other side were also stranded. People were seen using a boat on the river to cross to the other side.
According to a farmer living in Ura village, he heard a big sound around 7 a.m. and came rushing to the spot. There he found that the bridge was collapsing while some people were crossing over. In a few minutes thereafter, the bridge as well as huge mass of land collapsed completely. However, nobody was injured. The bridge is said to be only 10 years old, and river running beneath the bridge is just about 7 meters wide. The farmer informed that the bridge had been eroding for years and the recent monsoon may have been the last blow. Judging by the extent of damage, it is likely to take a very long time to restore the bridge. The villages have no alternate road to ply except towards Jalukie side which is said to be in terrible condition.
Building quality assets in Nagaland is rare. On inspecting the site, this Reporter along with some villagers found that the only 5 mm iron rods have been used in construction of the bridge. While the upper structure is more or less intact, the pillars supporting the bridge are crushed completely.
Along the same road only a few meters before reaching the damaged site, another portion is on the verge of being completely washed away due to soil erosion. Likewise, most of Nagaland’s transport communication is wearing off. It is no longer confined to the “backward” regions alone. Dimapur and Kohima roads are as bad- corroded and filled with dangerous potholes. And judging by the quality, it is hard to believe that construction materials for roads and bridges are being tested at the research laboratory cell under the department of public works which is mandatory.
Civil engineering is considered on of the most important professions in the world. What has become of civil engineering in our state is another matter altogether. Plus the need for construction workers to be registered with the government so that quality is ensured has not been felt by the state. Only recently the Department of Labour is working on a Building and Other Construction Workers Act, which is probably going to take some time to implement. There are various other reasons that Nagaland has struggled to build infrastructure, including poor planning, political meddling and outright corruption.
