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Dimapur, Nov. 11 (EMN): Government officials had appealed to private landowners along the National Highway-29 (NH-29) not to dump their construction materials on the highway and footpaths as well as leave unearthed soil unattended, but all the pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
The menace continues despite the principal secretary for Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, Himato Zhimomi addressing the issue on several occasions and the administration imposing fine on the defaulters.
Zhimomi on Wednesday shared photos of debris being dumped on the road side and footpath and appealed to the people not to destroy public property.
‘Admin Chumu fining yet another antisocial for mucking up new four-lane at 6th Mile, Dimapur. It is the duty of each landowner to ensure the footpath adjoining their land is free from all hindrances for pedestrians. The guilty must also clean up the road. Respect public property,’ he wrote earlier this month.
Speaking to Eastern Mirror, an engineer from TK Engineering Consortium Private Ltd., the firm that is executing the four-lane project along the NH-29, informed that many letters have been written to the district administration to address the issue and to look into the matter at the earliest.
“We have already completed our project but these people (land owners) are dumping their debris on our carriageway. Because of this it is not only obstructing our cosmetic work; it is also hazardous to the road users,” the engineer said.
He added that debris is being dumped near the drainage as well and block it, which leads to the roads turning mucky and slippery.
“This is causing serious problem to the society, road users and to the agency also,” said the engineer.
He informed that all details of the issue along with site photos had been given to the district administration as well as the administration of Chümoukedima.
“We are continuously clearing out this debris to avoid unavoidable circumstances but ‘these people’ who are dumping these materials are least bothered,” the engineer said, adding that it is very unsafe for people driving, especially at night.
The deputy commissioner (DC) of Dimapur also told this newspaper that the issue has been taken up with the SDO Chümoukedima and notices issued to all landowners to clear the road and drainage areas and discontinue dumping of debris along the NH-29.
The SDO of Chümoukedima also informed that all village councils have been directed to take strict action against those landowners dumping debris along the highway.
"A notice was issued on September 3 directing all village councils to impose disciplinary action against any resident of their village found dumping debris," the SDO said, adding that the councils have also been directed to announce the ban.
‘The police are also aware of the ban on dumping of debris along the highway; if they find any person violating the rule, the council is informed to take action,’ informed the SDO.