Parliamentary secretary for irrigation & flood control (I&FC) Jacob Zhimomi on May 21 inspected various projects and works undertaken by the department in and around Dimapur.
According to a DIPR report, the parliamentary secretary visited areas under Zukihe and Shozukhu villages, where bank revetment works would be undertaken soon, besides Chate river bank, Domokhia village, Kughovi Village, Christian Institute of Science and Health Research (CISHR), Murise village near Horti centre of excellence and Urra village.
The places that he visited were all affected due to soil erosion and in many cases threatening the inhabitants of the area.
On inspection, Zhimomi assured to give his best efforts in taking up bank revetment projects anti-erosion works.
Briefing the media persons after his visit, he lamented that occurrence of rapid soil erosion on the banks of Dhansiri and Chate Rivers were due to excessive extraction and excavation of the river banks by land owners, villagers and business (suppliers) community
Calling for refraining from carrying out such activities, Jacob Zhimomi said he would urge the district administration to issue order of ban on excavation activity in certain designated places and areas.
Further, expressing displeasure concerning dumping of waste products on the banks of Chathe River especially around CISHR area, posing a health hazard for humans, parliamentary secretary suggested that CISHR authorities tie up with DMC and to seek other alternative for dumping of waste products.
Stating that Dhansiri River defined the border between Nagaland and Assam in some areas, which required urgent embankment project, Zhimomi said he would consult and take up the matter with his Assam counterpart for containing soil erosion in areas where needed.
Further, parliamentary secretary called upon I&FC department to tie up with departmental such as Agriculture and Horticulture before taking up projects so as to see that any project undertaken should not be wasted but benefit the public to the maximum.
Projects should be oriented and duplication should be avoided or rectified, he asserted.
Zhimomi also told the department officials to check if there was any duplication of projects and to write to departments of rural development, agriculture and horticulture for cross checking of projects undertaken by them.
Parliamentary secretary said his department should soon have a Hydrology section where studies about climate including rainfall and river system in Nagaland would be carried out. Meanwhile, Zhimomi called upon the people to cooperate with the authorities in order to preserve the ecology. Parliamentary secretary was accompanied by secretary, Irrigation & Flood Control, Bendangkokba, chief engineer (IF&C) Mgilo Kep besides host of other officials of the department.