Recent monsoon disaster was as much manmade as was natural – KVYO

Dimapur, Aug. 13 (EMN): The Kohima Village Youth Organization (KVYO) has asked the Nagaland government for immediate repairs and construction of ‘quality’ roads and drainage in and around the capital town, Kohima town, including the Sanuorü Bridge.

In a representation to the chief minister on Monday, the KVYO stated that the incessant rains this season had caused immense hardship to people across the state. “This unprecedented downpour has displaced many families, damaged buildings, wrecked terrace fields and other cultivations. A multitude of roads has been destroyed due to sinking and landslides consequently leading to road blockages, thereby causing misery and devastation in Kohima and beyond.

“While incessant rain is indeed responsible, it also needs to be questioned whether man-made disaster is also responsible to a large extent. Although the heavy rains takes the blame for creating landslides, other important factors such as poor workmanship, improper planning, lack of technical expertise, lack of proper supervision by engineers and corruption at the departmental, government and political level must also take into blame. The KVYO is of the opinion that unless the ministers, contractors, BRO/GREF/PWD/Roads and Bridges department take their job seriously and honestly ‘heavy rain or no rain’ Kohima, the state capital, will never see the light of day,” the letter read.

According to the youth organisation, it was simply unacceptable that the state’s capital ‘is at this scale of sorry state’ where the most important lifelines were not taken as top priority; where policy makers either blame lack of funds or divert the funds and ply everyday over uncountable potholes with their luxurious cars; contractors blame daylight robbery and ‘lipstick the roads’ that last only for a few months; and the BRO/GREF blames the Centre or the meagre allotted funds.

“If a state capital is in this state of negligence, it is unworthy mentioning the state of the interior districts. In the recent event of major roads being cut-off, like many other voluntary social establishments in different locations, the KVYO within its capacity aided by machinery support from some well wishers and the PWD department, did temporary repairing of all blocked roads leading to the state’s Secretariat besides aiding the traffic personals. (sic)

“The organisation has also cleared all its existing in-routes and circular roads under its jurisdiction for all commuters thereby lightening the miseries of the denizens to an extent and is still ready to assist the government in whatever way possible,” it reminded.

But now it has no choice ‘but to voice out our resentment for the benefit of all the denizens of the district and beyond.’ While appreciating the state government for running from pillar to post to avail financial assistance from the central government, it hoped that the funds would be used for the purpose it was granted i.e., the public and affected roads.

“We urge the government to make a concerted effort of all the departments to pool the resources together to mitigate, prevent and contain such manmade disaster in future to save Kohima city. We also strongly urge the government to immediately repair the major lifelines in and around Kohima and also construct the Sanuorü Bridge at the earliest,” the letter read.