Dimapur, April 26 (MExN): The National People’s Party (NPP) Nagaland on Tuesday drew attention to a number of issues related to the public’s well-being in the state.
The party issued a press release highlighting the flood and inundation problem particularly in Dimapur and its adjoining areas, lack of proper water supply and the road conditions across the state. It said that the State Government should “address the problems immediately and be more proactive towards the well-being of its citizens and carry out its duties sincerely and without any political bias or corruption.”
On the issue of floods and inundation, the party stated that the problem is caused “due to a poorly managed system of drainage and lack of proper planning by the authorities” along with lack of planning and coordination of the various departments concerned. The present problem of clogging of drainage pipes and inundation have chiefly occurred due to a poor drainage system, improper planning by the District Planning Board and random permission for constructions, it said.
It said that the general public is left with no respite but to fend for themselves due to little or no help from the State Government. “While it is evident that enough funds have been released for flood control there is no such signs of the funds being properly utilized,” it said while underlining that the state of Nagaland has been allocated a total of Rs 46 Crore under SDRF/SDRMF including State share while another Rs 16.40 Crore has been allocated as Centre’s share of SDRF/SDRMF, according to Annexure-III provided as answer to an unstarred question in Rajya Sabha by Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Nityanand Rai for 2021-22.
“What has happened to all the funds thus released by the Centre? Why is the State Government not utilising the funds for mitigating the lot of the people, especially the citizens of Dimapur, which is the worst hit at present due to flooding and inundation?” it questioned.
Another area needing immediate attention, the party stated, was the provision of clean drinking water supply under the Jal Jeevan Mission which is a flagship programme of Government of India to provide Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every rural household of the country by 2024.
In this connection, the NPP Nagaland, citing a PIB Delhi press release by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, said that under JJM, during 2020-21, Nagaland has been allocated an amount of Rs 114.09 crore, out of which Rs 28.52 crore has been released to the State. Further, it said the state has been allocated Rs 125 crore under 15th Finance Commission Grants to rural local bodies, 50% of which is mandatorily to be utilized on drinking water supply and sanitation activities.
Towards this, the NPP asked the State Government whether all the funds have been fully and honestly utilized. “If yes, why can’t we still see any water supply connections in all the Districts?” it posed. It also underscored that water supply has not been provided to colonies or wards for decades now and that even a ‘cosmopolitan city’ like Dimapur does not even have the basic amenity of clean drinking water being supplied to every household.
Terming it as “total callousness of the authorities,” the party maintained that the hill districts have acute shortage of drinking water especially during the dry months and the government should seriously look into the matter and bring about equitable distribution of clean drinking water for every household without any bias.
Further, the NPP said that the issue of deplorable roads has been raised on more than one occasion by the party, and that it is “constrained to raise this issue yet again as there has been very little improvement or ratification in this regard except for the National Highway passing through Dimapur and Kohima.”
Most of the other roads including State Highways, especially in far flung and interior places are still lying in deplorable condition since decades, it pointed out, while adding that even in Dimapur, which is the gateway of Nagaland and Manipur, most of the roads are lying neglected for many years without any signs of improvement.
“Who are to blame for this mess? What is happening to all the toll taxes collected by DMC for the maintenance of roads?” it questioned.
Additionally, it also raised the issue of the Foothill Roads and said that the government should prioritize the completion of the road to solve the problems of travelers crossing the adjoining state of Assam.
As a people centric party, NPP Nagaland remains committed to voice out the concerns of the common people and demand the legitimate rights of the citizens, it said while calling upon all right-thinking people including the civil society organisations, student bodies, churches and others, to come together and fight for the rights of the common people.
“The party alone cannot bring about drastic changes without the support of the common people and other organizations,” it added.
