Zhaleo concerned for Dimapur, Kohima & more satellite townships
Source: NEPS *

Kohima, August 18 2013: Parliamentary Secretary for Urban Development Zhaleo Rio, while expressing his main concern for the fast growing two major cities of Nagaland---the State capital Kohima and the State's commercial hub Dimapur, made it clear that his department was working to give more impetus for the development of all the notified towns as well as non-notified towns in the State.

Talking to NEPS here on Sunday, the Parliamentary Secretary described Dimapur as "mini India" as the places were inhabited not only by all sections of Naga people but also mainland Indians.

Emphasizing the urgency to push for a major overhaul for the fast growing commercial hub of the State, he disclosed that constructions of few flyovers were in the pipeline so also widening of roads and more new roads in his packed kitties.

"Once these ambitious projects are completed, there will be tremendous ease of traffic problems in Dimapur," he stated.

Rio also expressed for the construction of ring roads in the State capital so as to ease the traffic congestion.

These ring roads once completed, 50% of the vehicular movements in the main Kohima town would be diverted to these ring roads, he added.

Talking about the development of various sectors of Kohima areas, the Parliamentary Secretary made it his point very clear that his approach should have the "common benefit" to all the wards and colonies.

"I have been telling every individual coming to me that any work they applied should reach to the common men and not individually," he asserted.

"I want to take up common benefits which will protect the welfare of citizens of each and every colony" .

Rio also stressed the importance of proper maintenance of drainages in Kohima and Dimapur towns.

He pointed out that due to the non-maintenance of drainages or absence of drainages in many places in the town areas, things had become dangerous during rainy seasons because huge garbage was flown along with the rain water.

"This garbage flown with the rain waters had caused serious health hazards, besides damaging soils and roads," he said disclosing that his department was working to take up "storm water scheme" so that it did not only take away these dangerous and harmful garbage to the safe places but also the water could be channelized for irrigation purposes.

The Parliamentary Secretary also disclosed that the State had recorded the highest rate of urbanization in the country adding that the national level of average urbanization was about 21%, whereas Nagaland's was 69%.He further came up with various schemes to develop and create more satellite townships in the State so as to discourage migration to urban areas.

* NEPS can be contacted at nepsonline(at)yahoo(dot)com .

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