Rs 23 lakh used to clean Dimapur’s drains: DUCCF

Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 16

The Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF) addressed a press conference on June 15 announcing the finishing of the drainage unclogging exercise in the Dimapur municipal jurisdiction.

The exercise, which ran from May 16 to June 12, was carried out with funding from Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) routed through the Dimapur district administration.

According to the DUCCF, the clearance work was completed at an expenditure of Rs 23 lakh out of the allotted Rs 25 lakh. 

“For this drainage clearance, the budget was set at Rs 25 lakhs... we completed the work at around Rs 23 lakhs, leaving Rs 2 lakhs unused,” Zakiesato said. He added that the federation declined an offer to retain the surplus, requesting that it be kept for other administrative needs.

The project covered drainage systems, mostly naturally occurring, covering several localities, including stretches from East Block, Burma Camp, to SM Colony, and Sunday Bazaar to Zeliangrong Colony. According to the DUCCF, much of the clearance was done manually by engaging labourers with machinery deployed primarily at disposal points. Approximately over 30 dump trucks of waste were removed and disposed at the DMC landfill during the project. Zakiesato said that community leaders and volunteers, alongwith hired labour, also had to physically take part in the exercise. 

While a non-existent solid waste disposal culture in the community has been well evident, the federation’s General Secretary Bokato Wotsa said that the experience during the recent cleaning exercise brought to fore a heightened necessity to cultivate better civic sense and building sanitation infrastructure. “Instead of constructing proper septic tanks, some people have directed their toilet outlets directly into the drains,” he said. Wotsa described coming across solid debris ranging from plastic bags to animal carcasses. 

Chairperson Zakiesato stressed on the need for public cooperation to prevent future water-logging, stating, “Dumping garbage leads to stagnation and blockages, which ultimately causes flooding.”

The drainage clearance is done, and we can see the water flowing now. However, do you think this is a permanent solution or just a temporary one, considering that many areas in Dimapur still face flood issues? What permanent solution does DUCCF see in the long run, and have you proposed anything to the government?

The federation’s Information Secretary Arang Pongen appealed to the citizenry to avoid constructing structures near over drains. According to him, Dimapur did not experience floods of the scale witnessed in recent years 15 to 20 years ago. He appealed to the government authorities to look into sensitive areas like New Field Check Gate, Dilai Gate, where bridges are located, and Nagarjan Police Point. He said, “Even with awareness, people continue to throw garbage.” 

Referencing the findings of a ‘Drainage Survey’ dating to 2023, the DUCCF said that demolitions and restructuring require funds from the state government. Vice President P Vikheto Chisho appealed for civic responsibility. “Some individuals encroach on small portions of land, which causes problems for the entire colony,” Chisho said, urging residents to cooperate to allow urban planning. On the absence of the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) in the drainage clearing exercise, Chisho said that the DUCCF managed sectors allotted to it, while the DMC managed areas that were allotted to it. 

On the dumping of waste into drains also shared by residents from across the state border, the DUCCF President said that the district administration is in touch with its Karbi Anglong counterpart.