Monsoon wreckage: Nagaland govt. staring at colossal damage

Dimapur, Aug. 11 (EMN): The Nagaland government is looking at a colossal loss of lives and property amounting to approximately INR 300-600 cr. even as government agencies assess the damage caused by the monsoon rains during the weeks in the recent past.

The worst part as of now seems to be over. The monsoon this time, with its abnormally heavy rains, lashed the state and brought about massive landslides and caused floods in the low-lying areas. But for the people the worry is still not over: The retreating monsoon might once again lash the state in during October-November.

Nagaland Chief Secretary Temjen Toy spoke with Eastern Mirror. He said that the state’s government was exerting all effort including restoration work. He informed that the Pungro-Mimi village has been cut off, as was the Atoizo-Sathiza road. The main road leading to Kiphire district, the national highway, is also yet to be restored, it was informed.

Toy informed that different agencies were currently assessing the damage done by the monsoon rains. He estimated that the damages both in terms of property and lives, at around INR 300-400 crore. Apart from the damage to property, ten lives were also lost, directly related to the monsoon rains, in different parts of the state.

The bureaucrat informed that the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority and other government agencies were fully concentrating on restoration works. The state government has been providing immediate relief to the affected people during the past days too, it was informed.

The chief secretary was appreciative of the government agencies for tackling the unprecedented situation the state faced. “Various government agencies have proven their mettle during this tough time,” the chief secretary said. Likewise, he appreciated individuals and groups especially the Kohima Village Youth Organisation and others, for coming out to assist the government during this ‘abnormal times.’

The chief secretary admitted that the monsoon and the catastrophe was a good lesson for the state government and that there were lessons to be learned from it. In this regard, he said that the state government would be looking for experts so that the state can be more prepared during emergencies.

The advisor of the NSDMA, Pukhayi Sumi, told Eastern Mirror that the state’s government had submitted the estimate of damages. He, however, said that the state was estimating it to around INR 600 cr. He said that the government of India will be releasing the relief during the months of either November or December.

The state is slowly limping back to normalcy as the rains ebb. A question remains though: How ready would the state be to face a similar problem in the future?

When contacted for his opinion, a professor at the department of Geography of Nagaland University, Dr. Lanu Longkumer, simply said that the state’s government should be prepared to mitigate such situations in the future by roping in experts from various institutions and agencies.

He said that the soil in Nagaland was very loose; when the first rains come, it becomes wet and finally gives way and collapses. He said that the state will face more such situation in the future because its soil formation was loose and the topography also ensures heavy rains. In this regard, he said that the government shall have to come up with certain guidelines especially in regard to construction of buildings, besides those in the towns. When formulating policies, he said, the government and its agencies should invite expert opinions from universities and institutions so that the government would be able to mitigate damage.

“We should always think about how to mitigate such damages and be prepared for (it),” Prof. Longkumer said.

Nagaland has faced what can be termed one of its worst monsoon seasons in the recent times. The rains have subsided, and damage assessment is on but a question lingers: How well are we prepared to take on similar situations in the future?