Flood in Dimapur blamed on poor urban planning

Dimapur, Aug. 1 (EMN): As the monsoon rains get more extreme, “flooding” in Nagaland’s commercial hub, Dimapur, seems to have become a norm.

It is believed that poor urban planning, mainly improper construction of drains in Dimapur, led to water clogging and flooding in the area, leaving one non-local male dead at Netaji Colony on August 1.

It is known that the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) is the principal body of the town and shares responsibility with the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA).

The District Project Assistant (DPA) of Dimapur from the NSDMA said that drainage had become a big concern for Dimapur.

“All the water logging is due to blocked drains all over Dimapur; people need to stop disposing garbage on the streets,” the DPA said also adding that the improper construction of drainage is a major cause for all the flooding.

The NSDMA has also been tirelessly been working and trying to relocate families in different locations who have been affected, in case of further downpour.

“We have been trying to provide shelter to families in different areas of Dimapur by relocating them to under construction buildings which have we have already sought permission for,”the DPA informed.

He also informed that the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has deployed a team that is on standby. An additional team that arrived on Aug. 1 from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will also be assisting if any major disaster occurs.

Apart from the main town of Dimapur, warning notices to areas located in the lower parts of Dhansiri River has also been issued by the NSDMA. The DPA informed that the inhabitants of the area has been asked to “evacuate immediately” if water level rises and to inform the NSDMA if the level crosses the danger mark.