Kohima City population increases from 4,125 in 1951 to 99,039 in 2011
KOHIMA, JANUARY 21: Administrator of Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) T LanusenlaLongkumer today stressed on the need for accurate data for better policy making.
Delivering the keynote address during the Open Data Day on the theme “Expert talk on Data”, organised by the Kohima Smart City Development Limited (KSCDL), at KMC building attached to New Super Market here, Lanusenla Longkumer said accurate data is used in policy making and planning of the Government which will impact the development and progress.
Stating that data collection gives a clear picture of the prevailing conditions in society and the need for improvement, she lamented that data collection, including census operations in Kohima and the State in general has seen several flaws hampering proper planning.
She said that the census operation 2021, which is the base of all policy making for the next 10 years and to plan for future development, has not been completed in the State because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Proper, accurate and reliable data is a must for improvement in all sectors, she said.
Nonetheless, the KMC Administrator lamented that in Nagaland people tend to register themselves in all places, including their village, town and farm locations, leading to faulty data hampering the various processes.
In this, she appealed to all to register themselves at the place where they are residing and not in their native village and other places, which in turn will help in presenting accurate data in planning.
Assistant Director Directorate of Census Operation, Nagaland, Mhathung Rangthang shared on the administrative setup of the Census Office, and the various surveys it conducts.
Highlighting the decadal variation of population of Kohima Municipal area, he said in 1951 the capital town had a population of 4,125 people but has increased to 99,039 in 2011 with 22,312 households.
The literacy rate of Kohima is 90.8% while total workers’ percentage is 35.3%, he said.
There are 65.4% good houses, while 32.6% are liveable and 2.1% are in dilapidated condition, he said adding that New Market colony has the maximum dilapidated houses at 25.6%.
On drinking water sources, he informed that 40.5% of houses are using tap-water, while 33.1% depends on wells and 26.3% on other sources.
Altogether 99% of the houses in KMC jurisdiction are electrified while 0.8% uses other sources and 0.2% are without lighting facilities, he said.
The Officer also informed that 93.2% households in Kohima municipality have a latrine facility within their premises while 6.8% households do not have the facility.
In the capital town, 14.8% families use fire-wood for cooking, 3% are on kerosene and 81.1% depend on LPG/PNG.
Additional Director of Economics & Statistics, Charles N Kikon gave an overview of how information is collected and compiled by the Department which is used for policy making. He lamented that the State is lacking in quality data which hampers the State’s statistical system and added that wrong statistics will give wrong policies.
City Data Officer & General Manager (Planning) KSCDL KezhocholeRhetso said as we celebrate 75 Years of the Nation’s Independence by way of observing Open Data Week, Kohima Smart City Development Limited together with other 100 Smart Cities of India, advocates the availability, accessibility and importance of urban data for future city planning and participatory involvement in the creation of Smart Cities.
GIS Expert, Nagaland Science & Technology Council, Department of Science & Technology, Thsope Medo highlighted the Department’s role in providing data through Geographic Information System, and how the data provided through GIS have helped in checking whether actual work is implemented.
Other Line Departments and students from Kohima took part in the programme.
Earlier, Chief Executive Officer, KSCDL, K Theunuo informed that the Open Data Week is being held from January 17 to 21 and it is an initiative of the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, Government of India, as part of a series of pre-event initiatives leading up to the ‘AzadiKaAmritMahotsav – Smart Cities: Smart Urbanization’ conference to be held next month at Surat.
Associate Analyst, IT KSCDL Ketusezo Rote moderated the programme while Data Officer KSCDL Niepukhrie Tepa tendered the vote of thanks.
(Page News Service)
