Following local media reports that Yeveto village and surrounding villages under Niuland sub-division have been severely affected by the flood waters of Zubza river, the Irrigation & Flood Control (I&FC) department on Thursday issued a press release clarifying its stand.
I&FC department through DIPR stated that the department initiated emergency erosion mitigation measures to protect the river banks at Yeveto village area during 2016 as well as 2017. However, it said the inundation of the river bank area due to natural calamity of flood condition was not within the scope of the department.
The department disclosed that it has submitted proposal to the government for consideration of NEC funding for protection works at Yeveto village area.
I&FC department also stated that it has been implementing anti erosion and flood mitigation works under the “Flood Management Programme Program” within the scope and guidelines and funding of the Ministry of Water Resources, RD&GR.
The department pointed out that it had carried out “Protection of Rengmapani, K. Hetoi and Hozukhe village areas from erosion of Dzuza River, Dimapur district” during 2014-15 with construction of Bed Bars, Spurs and river bank revetment works for protection of erosion affected areas as well as mitigate erosion prone areas for the stretch of Dzuza River from Niuland Bridge upto Rengmapani and in other areas.
According to I&FC chief engineer, Er. S. Kughaho Sema, the protection works have been completed successfully and have served the purpose. However, he said that unregulated exploitation of river bed materials in all the major rivers in the foothill plains of Dimapur and adjoining areas has caused severe erosion of river banks, and damaging agricultural lands, habitations, roads and communication and infrastructures.
The chief engineer stated that large boulders in the river beds dissipate the energy of the swift river flow and the water literally tumbles/rolls with its speed reduced. However, he said the entire stretch of Dzuza as well as Chathe, Langlong and Khova rivers in the plain sector were now devoid of the any boulders and rendered plain with gravel and pebbles only.
Under such conditions, the chief engineer said hectares upon hectares of arable lands have been swallowed leaving large tracts of barren flood banks.
The department has cautioned that more disaster awaits the urban areas where public tend to encroach right upto the river’s edge and even beyond and restricting the natural drains/rivers.
According to the department, it has been observed that cycles of heavy rains causing flood conditions occur every 10-15 years in the State. “Thus, where the river channel has been constricted due to encroachment, the river overflows its banks and causes damages in its wake,” the department said, adding that no amount of finger pointing or blame game would undo the damaged done.
It pointed out that land was privately owned in Nagaland and the restrictions on river bed exploitation, sand extraction or any other regulations on landed property by the State more than often go unheeded.
The department said the onus therefore should be taken up by the village councils and NGOs in their own jurisdiction for pre-emptive measures to avert man-made disasters and circumvent the impending hazards.
Meanwhile, the department said effort should be made by the local bodies to take the following measures:
1. Rivers and natural drainage systems should be left in their pristine state as far as possible.
2. Restriction should be imposed in exploitation of river bed materials such as, boulders, gravels, shingles, sand etc.
3. Wherever quarrying or sand harvesting is necessitated, it should be regulated with the advice of experts.
4. Restriction of activities of the general public in the flood plains (flood plains includes channel and that area of nearby low land susceptible to flood inundation)
5. Co-ordination with the district administration and line departments for administrative and technical guidance and taking up remedial measures as per government programmes.