Multiple landslides cut off villages in Nagaland
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Dimapur, August 31 2011:
Multiple landslides and land sinking occurring in the approximate 91 kilometer stretch of foothill road between Bokajan-Wokha road due to incessant monsoon rains have cut off a number of villages from access to the district headquarters since June.
Around 18 villages under Ralan area which lies between Bokajan, Assam and Wokha, Nagaland have been severely affected because of the landslides.
According to the affected villagers there, there are more than 60 landslides which include more than 20 major ones on the road from Wokha-Yanthung-Meryan-Tots�-Hangkuo Yankely-Ralan New till Ralan Old.
In around 10 areas on that stretch of road which is 91 km approximate, major land sinking is taking place, it has been reported.
The particular road considered as a life line since the odd 18 villages under Ralan area will have to take the alternate route via Bokajan-Dimapur-Kohima to reach Wokha which takes more than 12 hours by private vehicle and 24 hours if it's a commercial bus.
However, finding transportation is another thing to worry about, which has put these villagers in dire straits during emergency situations.
Otherwise, it's just around 5 hours trip from the last point of the affected village Ralan Old till Wokha town.
And with no government assistance coming in despite the frequent outcry, most of the road maintenance, inconsequential though it may be, is being done by the villagers.
M Odyuo, president VDB&VCC Union, Wozhuro-Ralan Block while highlighting the grievances faced by the people of the affected area said the state government and the concerned department earnestly need to immediately look into the matter and redress the problem faced.
Apart from the landslides, the road in many areas has become virtually untraceable because of thick vegetation due to lack of maintenance, he stated.
The block VCC president said some funds were allotted to contractors last year for maintenance of the road, however with the funds not enough, major repair could not be done and this year's torrential rains have completely cut off the road in the said Bokajan-Wokha road.
Citing instance on the plight faced by people of that area, Odyuo said VDB and VCC representatives of Wozhuro-Ralan block were forced to travel all the way to Wokha via Bokajan-Dimapur-Kohima to attend a meeting because of the road despair.
The meeting was called to discuss on access and redress of the road blockade of the Wokha-Bokajan road cause by severe perennial rain.
In this connection, the VDB&VCC Union, Wozhuro-Ralan Block today appealed the concerned authority to kindly under take necessary action for removal of the land slides and clearing of the side drains and also for the clearance of the jungles through the entire road in the hill section and to restore the connectivity at the earliest.
It should also be mentioned that the Ralan Area Students' Union (RASU) lamented that nothing has been done for the said area despite the Governor of Nagaland declaring villages of Lotha lower ranges as backward in the year 1986 .
"There are more than 60 landslides between old Ralan to Hankv� for which 6 villages are cut off from both ends.
Some villages maintain the road from the village fund and can not afford any longer", RASU had added.
Comment
