Sentilong Imchen
B Arch /M Urban Planning, SPA, New Delhi
To the respective Municipal Council/PWD department, Dimapur or whoever it may concern. I start my writing with a bold statement because I am unsure of whom to point my finger at regarding this issue. These kinds of write ups by struggling generals like me and many more are not something new, but a constant reminder that the concern departments needs to be aware of their responsibilities rather than them being aware of what needs to be done. The sole purpose of forming a Urban Local Body ULB as per the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act 1992 is done to ensure the decentralization of power and authorities to the Municipal bodies at different levels so that works can be carried out smoothly. Dimapur Municipal Council erstwhile, Dimapur Town Committee was formed in 1954 and after 1992 was vested with responsibilities as per the 12th schedule under the 74th CAA. Dimapur is one of the fastest growing cities in the North East region, but fails to even provide one of the most basic and fundamental city requirement, i.e. the Master Plan for the City. What are the Urban Planning Department and Town and Country Planning Organization TCPO Department of the State doing to ensure the steady growth of the city? As a fast growing city it is necessary to have a Master Plan to understand and direct the growth of the city. Moreover after the formation of separate districts of Dimapur and Chumukedima the stress on the ULB has been decentralised to a smaller area so respective line departments should focus on strategic development plans. It is easier said than done, but there has to be a point where all these issues need to be taken a step ahead.
Dimapur Municipal Council covers an area of approx. 18.13 sq km and most of the dilapidated road conditions fall under the municipal boundary for which the public have to suffer on a daily basis. The Municipal and Public Works Department are responsible for constructing and maintaining the roads but rather the Public has taken matters into their own hands by constructing the roads. This is a worrying trend as it highlights a lack of trust in the government’s ability to carry out its duties. The roads connecting to major hospitals like Eden, Faith and CIHSR are unfortunately connected with the present dilapidated road condition which becomes a major issue, for which these roads should be given utmost priority. Don’t our Ministers and MLA’s use the same facilities? Or do they have some special facilities which are connected through good roads.
Another issue is the lack of transparency in the construction and maintenance of the roads which shows cavalier statement towards the public. The residents are unaware of the funds allocated for the development of the roads. Where are the funds collected by the Municipal and funds from various development schemes like PMGSY, AMRUT etc going to, and what development are we seeing? There is a lack of communication between the government and the public. This has led to a breakdown in trust between the two parties. If the Municipal Council or the Public Work department can’t carry their responsibilities, why not outsource Public Private Partnership’s (PPP) projects to help assist the work. The government must take immediate steps to address these issues. Firstly, there should be an increase in the budget allocated for the development and maintenance of the roads. The government must also ensure that the funds are utilized effectively and efficiently. Secondly, there must be transparency in the allocation and utilization of funds. The government must communicate with the public about the funds allocated for the development of the roads and provide regular updates on the progress of the construction and maintenance. Lastly, the government must involve the public in the decision-making process. The public must be consulted about the roads that require construction or maintenance, and their feedback must be taken into consideration.
The issue of roads in Dimapur, Nagaland is a pressing concern that must be addressed by the government. The public's involvement in the construction and maintenance of roads is a clear indication of the lack of trust in the government's ability to carry out its duties. Therefore, the government must take immediate steps to address and expedite these issues and ensure transparency and justice for the public. In conclusion, this is not to vilify the concern authorities/bodies but a reminder to be another persons shoes to know the struggles we face.
