Moatoshi inspects flood-affected areas in Dimapur

Advisor for Labour & Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, and Excise, Moatoshi Longkumer, who also chairs the District Planning and Development Board (DPDB) of Dimapur, conducted an extensive inspection of flood-affected areas across the city on Tuesday. He was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Dr. Tinojongshi Chang, officials from the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) councillors led by the chairman Hukheto Yepthomi and deputy chairperson Imlinaro Ezung, police personnel, and representatives from village and colony councils.
The inspection began at Lengrijan and covered severely inundated localities including Notun Basti, IV-LRC, Island Colony, Nagarjan, Vilhume Colony, Hospital Colony, Police Colony, Walford Colony, concluding at Burma Camp.
Addressing the media post-inspection, Longkumer described the flood situation as a “man-made disaster” rooted in “human greed” and a lack of civic responsibility. He emphasized the urgent need for strict action against individuals encroaching on drainage lands and called for collective resolve to clear blocked drains. “Even if the encroacher is someone you know, we must act without bias,” he said.
Turning attention to the city’s frequent fire hazards, Longkumer pointed to unregulated construction in densely populated areas that hinder fire tenders’ access. He urged for a policy overhaul, stating that construction permissions should follow clearance from municipal authorities. “Like in other cities, we must evolve and adopt systemic safeguards,” he asserted.
While acknowledging his limited powers, the advisor assured that as DPDB chairman, he would coordinate closely with the Deputy Commissioner and DMC to push forward corrective measures.
He also disclosed that a task force had previously identified eight encroachers and initiated demolitions. This task force, he said, would be reactivated, even if it meant taking action against politically connected individuals.
At a subsequent meeting at Lengrijan Village Hall, Longkumer stressed that the inspection was a spontaneous response to the crisis and reiterated the importance of prioritizing drainage infrastructure. “If we are to live in Dimapur, drainage must be a shared responsibility and a city-wide priority,” he said, urging DMC councillors to enforce regulations and educate residents against dumping waste into drains.
Meanwhile, DC Dimapur Dr. Tinujongshi Chang informed that the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) rescued 844 stranded individuals since Sunday and that relief operations and camp visits were ongoing. DMC chairman Hukheto Yepthomi confirmed that spot verification was completed and an emergency meeting had been held. He added that illegal structures would be demolished where necessary and appealed for public cooperation