Nagaland Chief Minister and Chairman of the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA), Dr. Neiphiu Rio, chaired a high-level monsoon preparedness meeting at the Chief Minister’s Conference Hall, Civil Secretariat, Kohima on May 20. The meeting brought together top officials and ministers to strategize the state’s readiness for the upcoming monsoon season.
Addressing the issue of essential supplies, CM Rio directed the concerned departments to assess the stock of essential commodities across all districts before the monsoon sets in. He emphasized the need for timely reporting of shortages from any village or town and instructed officials to ensure fair price shops are monitored to protect consumer rights.
The Chief Minister also instructed the Chief Secretary to convene a video conference with all Deputy Commissioners to review district-level preparedness and commodity availability.
Highlighting the importance of uninterrupted transport during the rainy season, Rio instructed the Public Works Department to monitor the weight load on highways and to issue specific tonnage limits for trucks. He also advised the Administration and police department to send team of officers and Dobashis for routine road checks to ensure smooth traffic flow on highways and urban roads during the monsoon season.
The CM stressed the urgent need to restore the State Quality Control Board and reiterated the importance of quality assurance in infrastructure works.
Kaito Aye, Jacob Zhimomi call for action
Minister for Roads and Bridges, G Kaito Aye, while sharing his views on the road sector, stated that the people of Nagaland deserve good roads and urged the NHIDCL to take serious responsibility in providing resilient infrastructure for the state.
Kaito also requested the Disaster Management department to allocate a dedicated emergency response fund that can be utilized by any department for the welfare of the people during the monsoon season.
He further called on the NHIDCL and the concerned departments to identify specific areas where immediate restoration and repairs are required. He emphasized the need for adopting appropriate restoration strategies and ensuring their effectiveness. Additionally, he requested the Mechanical Department to update the status of the available machinery in preparation for the upcoming monsoon season.
Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) Minister Jacob Zhimomi, while sharing his views on the road sector during the meeting, highlighted the challenging soil conditions in Nagaland, noting that the soil is highly saturated with water. He stated that strict protocols must be followed during road construction, with soil testing being a critical requirement. Zhimomi also urged the NHIDCL to ensure that contractors adhere to these protocols to ensure the durability and sustainability of roads. Additionally, he advised that once the road surface is completed, contractors must ensure no residue is left behind.
Forecast and sectoral preparedness
Joint Chief Executive Officer of NSDMA, Johnny Ruangmei, while presenting a PowerPoint presentation on ‘Monsoon 2025 Forecasting for Nagaland’, stated that the distribution of rainfall across the state is expected to be non-uniform and erratic, which will impact the crop plantation season.
He said that a proactive disaster risk reduction approach, combined with preparedness, data-driven planning, and community engagement, can significantly reduce potential risks.
Johnny further noted that, given the unprecedented changes in weather and climate patterns, development activities must prioritize future-resilient infrastructure and a resilient economy in order to achieve sustainable development.
Presentations on sectoral preparedness were made by various departments, including the PWD (R&B), NHIDCL, HG, CD&SDRF/NDRF, Health & Family Welfare, and Food & Civil Supplies, highlighting readiness across road infrastructure, emergency response, health services, and essential commodities.
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