The recent statement made by Urban Development Minister Dr Shurhozelie on the urbanization process in Nagaland describing it as ‘alarming’ is hopefully a sign of the government’s own concern on the problem at hand. Considering the infrastructure deficits, what Dr Shurhozelie said on the urban population of Nagaland accounting for 17.74% of the total population of the State, indeed reflects the enormity of challenges that lies ahead. It is welcome that the Planning Minister has understood the magnitude of this crisis and the point he made that the ‘relentless process’ of urbanization has to be factored into all our developmental thinking and processes is something that the government will itself have to bear responsibility and intervene accordingly. And it is here that the need to invest in infrastructure and improving the quality of life in the towns and cities becomes all the more important. Hopefully, the coherent and holistic urbanization policy that the Planning Minister is talking about becomes a reality soon if at all the State is to weather the inevitable urbanization storm.
Given the impending danger lying ahead especially in places like Kohima and Dimapur, which is already bearing the brunt of this relentless urban growth, those in authority must give serious thought to the larger issue of planning and management in urban areas, as suggested by the Minister. It is municipal bodies in the respective towns that will have to play the leadership role in this regard. There are several areas that need immediate attention. Foremost is the surfeit of infrastructural problems stemming from the growing size of our towns beyond their holding capacities. This is leading to overcrowding, lack of adequate housing, encroachment, mushrooming of slums and settlements, lack of civic amenities with the resultant disease and squalor. Viewed from an environmental perspective, urbanization has taken a heavy toll with our surrounding green belts slowly being devoured by concrete jungles and potentially fatal level of air, water and noise pollution. Further the psycho-social malignancies arising from the pressures of living in a veritable survival of the fittest scenario, exacerbated by the loss of traditional social support systems, manifest today in the high crime rates, psychotic disorders and racial and social tensions.
For policy makers, they will have to take into consideration the key factor accentuating the rural-to-urban exodus. One common understanding is that this is as a result of the imbalance in terms of availability of amenities and employment opportunities in urban centres. And till today the inclination is on one or two such urban hub instead of diverting or encouraging other growth centres. During the decade 1991-2001, there was a decrease in the percentage of urban population in the towns of Mon, Mokokchung and Tuensang. This is indicative of migration from these towns to places like Dimapur and Kohima, possibly for access to better amenities and economic opportunities. One long term solution is on improvement of rural infrastructure such as piped water supply, schools, hospitals, electrical power supply, the neglect of which accentuates the urban exodus. As far as dealing with the problems in existing urban towns goes, the Municipal authorities have to keep pace with city growth both spatially or in terms of infrastructure management. Policy makers need to wake up or else the nuisance brought about by the process of urbanization will become insurmountable.
