Kohima DM's final notice: clear encroachments, cover sites, fix cables

The Kohima district administration has issued three final enforcement orders aimed at clearing the state capital's roads of encroachments, making construction sites safer and getting rid of tangled, unused overhead cables, warning that anything left in place will be removed and the cost billed to those responsible.

The orders, all dated Thursday, October 29, were signed by District Magistrate B. Henok Buchem. They reinforce earlier directions issued in November 2025, and the administration said no further warnings would be given, The Morung Express and The News Mill reported.

1. Road encroachments

The first order calls for the immediate removal of all road encroachments across Kohima city, including building materials dumped by the roadside, poorly maintained toilets and urinals, pigsties and illegal structures.

The administration said these compromise road safety, create serious public health risks and spoil the city's environment. If owners do not act, the structures, materials and vehicles will be removed by the authorities without further notice and the entire cost of the clearance will be recovered from them.

2. Construction sites

The second order applies to all construction firms, agencies and individuals building in the district. They must enclose active work zones with perimeter hoarding and use debris netting, scaffold wrapping or similar approved protection.

The aim, the order says, is to protect pedestrians and workers and to cut dust and airborne debris. Violations will attract legal penalties under the relevant laws.

3. Overhead cables and pipes

The third order is a final warning to telecom companies, internet service providers, cable TV operators and water supply agencies. They must take down all redundant or abandoned overhead cables and pipes, and bundle, sleeve and fasten the lines still in use according to technical standards.

Any cable or pipe that does not comply will be dismantled by the authorities, again at the cost of the company or agency concerned. Service providers were told to comply immediately to avoid disruption to their services and financial penalties.

Why it matters

Kohima's narrow hill roads are often choked by parked vehicles, construction material and roadside structures, and loose cables strung between poles are a common sight in the city. The orders put the responsibility, and the bill, on owners and service providers. How strictly the administration follows through with removal drives in the coming weeks will decide whether the latest notice has more effect than the one issued last year.