DUCCF draws attention on Dimapur’s drainage woes

Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF) has raised alarm over the city’s worsening drainage system as monsoon season approaches and called on the state government to take immediate preventive measures to avert flooding.
Addressing a press conference at Lakeview Colony Community Hall, DUCCF vice president Tongzuk Pongen said the federation, along with executive members and colony representatives, has been conducting inspections across the city since March 16. Of the 97 colonies under 23 wards, 69 have been covered, revealing widespread drainage blockages.
Describing the situation as “heart-breaking,” Pongen said inspectors heard distressing accounts of residents, including women and children, being forced onto the streets during floods.
He stressed that Dimapur, being Nagaland’s commercial hub and gateway, required urgent attention with the monsoon expected within the next one to two months.
Pongen noted that a joint team led by the district administration had carried out spot verifications in 2025 and expressed hope that necessary works would commence before the rains. He termed the crisis partly “man-made,” citing illegal encroachments and narrowing of drainage channels as key contributors. DUCCF, he added, is ready to collaborate with the administration to clear encroachments and restore blocked drains.
DUCCF general secretary Bokato Wotsa said nearly 30 colonies were severely affected, with several others facing moderate issues, adding that only temporary measures have been taken so far without lasting solutions.
Federation president Zasivikho Zakiesato called for proper planning, including wider drains and retaining walls, and blamed indiscriminate garbage dumping for blockages. He appealed to citizens to adopt responsible waste disposal practices and urged effective utilisation of disaster response funds.
On prepaid metering, joint secretary Dr. Kahuka Sema reiterated that domestic consumers should not be compelled to adopt the system, adding that no formal complaints on forced installation have been received so far.