Achumbemo Kikon raises climate, environmental concerns in NLA

NPF legislator Achumbemo Kikon on Thursday raised concerns over climate change and environmental degradation in Nagaland during the Zero Hour of the ongoing 8th Session of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA), calling for urgent and coordinated action under the theme “Think Globally, Act Locally.”
Thanking the Speaker for admitting his notice, Kikon contextualised the issue within the global climate crisis, stating that climate change remains one of the greatest challenges facing humanity. He observed that environmental protection transcended borders and benefited all, regardless of individual contributions.
Referring to global indicators, he pointed out that countries like Finland rank high in global happiness partly due to environmental quality, while India ranked 116 in 2026 among 195 UN-affiliated nations. He also cited Bhutan as a model for environmental conservation as a carbon-negative country.
Kikon warned of the impacts of climate change, including extreme weather events, melting ice caps, rising sea levels, biodiversity loss, and population displacement. He called for greater emphasis on renewable energy, forest conservation, and sustainable lifestyles.
In the Indian context, he highlighted the challenge of balancing economic growth with environmental protection. He noted that India’s average temperature had risen by about 0.7°C between 1901 and 2018, and that the country ranked seventh globally in vulnerability to extreme weather events in 2019, with significant loss of life and economic damage.
Focusing on Nagaland, Kikon cautioned that the state faces increasing threats from rising temperatures and erratic rainfall, particularly in districts such as Phek, Tuensang, and Kohima. He pointed out that jhum cultivation, a key livelihood for rural households, is under stress due to soil degradation and climate impacts. He also noted that the state recorded 48 days of extreme weather in the past year, with growing urban heat stress in Dimapur.
He further highlighted environmental degradation in hill areas, including drying rivers and springs caused by deforestation and unsustainable land use. He proposed re-vegetation using native species and called for restrictions on borewell drilling in hilly regions.
Addressing urban pollution, Kikon expressed concern over the dumping of plastic waste and sewage into streams, particularly affecting downstream areas like the Doyang reservoir. He urged the government to enforce waste management practices, including designated disposal sites and cleanliness drives.
He also raised issues related to pollution in the Chathe and Dhansiri rivers in Dimapur, attributing it to sewage discharge, construction debris, sand mining, and unregulated extraction. He called for stricter regulations and accountability.
On air quality, Kikon noted that Kohima and Dimapur have been identified as non-attainment cities due to high pollution levels. He identified key sources such as construction dust, vehicular emissions, and waste burning, and called for stricter monitoring and relocation of polluting units.
Kikon also expressed concern over unregulated coal mining practices, including rat-hole mining in several districts, which he said has led to land degradation and environmental damage. He alleged violations such as failure to restore mined areas and warned of water contamination due to mining activities.
Calling coal mining “a bane,” he urged the government to suspend the Coal Mining Licence framework until proper safeguards and accountability measures are ensured.
Concluding his address, Kikon called for immediate and collective action to protect the environment for future generations, stressing the need for sustainable and responsible development.