Jubilee Tower turns into garbage dump

What was once an attempt to transform a stinking eyesore into a landmark of pride and service has today been reduced to yet another garbage corner in the heart of Dimapur.
The Jubilee Tower at Church Road, near the entrance to New Market, inaugurated with much hope and goodwill, now stands as a reminder of how civic negligence and public apathy can undo community-driven beautification efforts.
Built and inaugurated on February 9, 2019 by the Dimapur Langpangkong Senso Telongjem (DLST) to commemorate its Golden Jubilee Celebration, the structure was envisioned as both a Clock Tower and a Free Public Drinking Water Booth. The then minister of Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, Metsubo Jamir, inaugurated the tower in the presence of the then advisor for Power, H. Tovihoto Ayemi, and Moatoshi Longkumer, MLA.
The site, which earlier served as a dumping ground emitting foul stench and ruining the city’s image, had been transformed into a clean, welcoming spot where shoppers, pedestrians and business owners could avail free filtered RO drinking water.
A shopkeeper told Nagaland Post that the tower had been a big relief for them, as they could avail clean drinking water free of cost. However, he lamented the lack of civic sense among citizens, which not only damaged the scenic area but also polluted the drinking water facility. He said the vicinity has once again been turned into a dumping zone, with garbage piling up as business owners and passers-by continue to dispose of waste indiscriminately.
When contacted, a prominent member of DLST also expressed disappointment at the current state of the tower. He said the project was constructed to give back to the citizens of Dimapur and improve the city’s aesthetics. “We never imagined that people would again use this place as a dumping ground. The Jubilee Tower was meant to serve the public, but it is disheartening to see the area losing its purpose,” he said.
In a bid to deter littering, DLST recently constructed a small hanging garden, hoping that the greenery would discourage waste disposal in the area and instil a sense of shared responsibility in maintaining cleanliness. However, the member cautioned that without civic cooperation, the initiative risked meeting the same fate as the tower itself. He also appealed to the DMC to regulate the presence of food carts and trucks in the vicinity, pointing out that they contribute significantly to litter and unsanitary conditions.
DLST member further reminded that by the end of this month, around 2000 delegates from across the globe would attend the Indian Baptist Mission Summit hosted by NBCC at DABA from September 30 to October 3. “In a Christian-majority state like Nagaland, visitors will come with high expectations. We must not allow negligence and untidiness to send out the wrong impression,” he urged.