Why is Dimapur being sidelined on development? DUCCF questions

November 28, 2024 1 View No Comment

* Federation to file RTI on UDD, DMC and MDSS

* Demands Govt clear stance on NLTP Act

Morung Express News
Dimapur | November 28

The Dimapur Urban Council Chairman Federation (DUCCF) expressed concern on Wednesday over the lack of development activities in Dimapur.

As part of its efforts to address this issue, the federation announced plans to file Right to Information (RTI) applications concerning the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC), the Urban Development Department (UDD), and the Multi-Disciplinary State Stadium (MDSS).

Announcing this during a press conference at the Duncan Basti Community Hall, Dimapur, after a joint meeting with all council representatives, the DUCCF stated that several key issues affecting the area were also discussed during the meeting.

The DUCCF represents 23 wards and 97 colonies in urban Dimapur.

Addressing the media, the federation President Zasivikho Zakiesato maintained that for the past several years, the public has been kept in the dark about development projects being implemented in Dimapur.

It is our right to file an RTI and find out the truth of what is happening behind closed doors, he asserted.

Although Dimapur is considered as the fastest developing district in the State, Zakiesato held that developmental works have had been negligible or non-existent.

Hike in Sanitation fee
Among its key concerns, the federation expressed dissatisfaction over the arbitrary increase in the Residential Sanitation Fee (RSF).

DUCCF Vice President Vikheto Chisho highlighted that the DMC previously charged Rs 50 per household for sanitation services.

However, this year, the rate was revised to Rs 60 and later announced to be increased to Rs 100, drawing criticism from the federation.

Given such arbitrary increase in the RSF, Chisho noted that most households would not be able to afford such an expense.

Zakiesato, meanwhile, said that while the DUCCF is in agreement with the sanitation tax, but collection rate should be carefully studied and reviewed before its implementation.

“If need be we will go for further consultation on whether the fee is suitable or not,” he added.

‘400 plus workers drawing salaries in DMC’
The DUCCF President further claimed that there are more than 400 workers currently being employed and withdrawing salaries under the DMC.

However, only half of the workface come to the office regularly, he alleged. Such state of affairs is a “great concern” not only for DUCCF but the entire citizens of Dimapur, he noted.

The members of the federation also shared their apprehension on the increase in the number of taxation being charged on the business community.

On NLTP Act
The members meanwhile upheld the notion that the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1989 (NLTP) Act has practically failed in its implementation.

‘We have already submitted a representation to the State government last year giving full support for lifting of the act within Dimapur,’ Zakiesato informed.

However, till today there has been no positive outcome, he added.

In light of the indecisive stance, the President maintained that the government should come clean and let the citizens know whether the act is to be lifted or not.

If the act is to be in place then it should be strictly implemented, he opined.

In his view, the DUCCF President said that each citizen is all too familiar with the failure of the act in Dimapur.

The federation further pointed out that an indirect consequence of prohibition has been the surge in the number of drug abusers in Dimapur leading to various sorts of criminal activities.

Other matters that had been up for discussion were on the controversy over the establishment of a Primary Health Centre at Government Middle School in Midland colony. “We had a meeting with Midland colony and they assured that they will resolve the issue by December,” Zakiesato said.