Chief Secretary Sentiyanger Imchen reviews Dimapur flood preparedness, stresses waste segregation, drainage clearance, and coordinated monsoon response measures.
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DIMAPUR — Warning that Dimapur’s drainage system continues to be choked by plastic waste and poor disposal practices, Chief Secretary Sentiyanger Imchen on Monday said that the government would move to enforce household-level waste segregation while reviewing flood preparedness in the commercial hub.
Imchen, who visited several flood-affected and flood-prone areas in Dimapur and East Dimapur, also expressed concern that the existing dumping site was nearing saturation due to the absence of waste segregation practices.
“The present dumping system cannot continue this way,” he said during a review meeting on urban management and flood mitigation after inspecting vulnerable areas across the district.
According to a DIPR update, the chief secretary was accompanied by officials from the district administration and various line departments, and inspected Nagarjan Police Point, Vilhume/SM colony, East Block Burma Camp (Narkul Turning), the DMC dumping area, Sunrise colony and New Field check gate to assess recurring drainage and flooding issues ahead of the monsoon.
Officials briefed him on major causes of flooding in the district, including clogged drainage systems, encroachment along drainage channels and inadequate drainage infrastructure in several localities.
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During the meeting, Imchen directed that segregation of waste at the household level into biodegradable and non-biodegradable categories be implemented without delay, adding that the government would soon issue the necessary orders.
He said that municipal bodies would be held directly responsible for solid waste management and stressed the need for stronger coordination among Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority, district administration, police, Public Health Engineering department and municipal authorities to tackle recurring urban flooding and sanitation challenges.
Highlighting the impact of plastic waste on drainage systems, the chief secretary said strainers should be installed across upstream nullahs to prevent plastic and other debris from accumulating in drainage channels.
Similar measures, he said, should also be incorporated into check dams and other drainage infrastructure, subject to availability of funds.
Imchen also expressed dissatisfaction over the state of municipal services, saying inefficiencies such as poorly maintained garbage collection vehicles were hampering waste management despite adequate manpower being available. He directed authorities to prioritise repair and maintenance of vehicles and improve utilisation of existing resources.
Stressing enforcement of sanitation measures, he called for sanitation inspectors to be empowered to monitor compliance and ensure sanitation norms are followed across localities.
The chief secretary further urged citizens to cooperate by maintaining cleanliness, segregating waste at source and paying sanitation fees, while also calling for intensified Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities to promote public awareness on sanitation and environmental responsibility.
Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur Tinojongshi Chang said that a district-level preparedness and mitigation action plan involving line departments, urban local bodies, ward authorities and community stakeholders had already been activated ahead of the monsoon.
He said vulnerable flood-prone areas and major drainage choke points were identified through joint field inspections, following which drainage clearance operations began on May 16 under the supervision of Dimapur District Drainage Clearance Committee using funds released to DDMA Dimapur for immediate mitigation measures.
Chang added that the Incident Response System command structure used during mock drills and Operation Night Guard would also be activated in the event of flash floods, with nodal officers and response teams assigned for evacuation, rescue, relief distribution and restoration work.
He said the Health department, PHED, Food and Civil Supplies, Power department, SDRF, Fire and Emergency Services and Dimapur Municipal Council had been placed on alert for immediate deployment during emergencies.