Plant thieves put a spanner on Kohima smart city's green belt project

Kohima:There is an unusual disruption in Kohima Smart City’s Green Belt project as plants along NH2 disappeared. Kovi Meyase, CEO of Kohima Smart City Development Limited (KSCDL) informed that “mature plants were uprooted and taken away” opposite to SKV Petrol Pump on Sunday night.

Meyase said that as part of the Roadside Plantation under Green Belt Development-Phase I, the Kohima Smart City have been undertaking plantations along the roadsides of NH2-from Naga Hospital Colony till Phesama Check gate.

While the initiative is undertaken with an endeavour to “beautify, spruce, facelift and also absorb dust pollutants in the city”, reported incidents have been taking place where plants and flower pots along the streets of Kohima have been disappearing.

“Instances have been occurring in the recent past of certain elements indulging in destroying, stealing and marring similar plantations within the city,” Meyase said.

The latest incident is where mature plants planted by the roadside opposite to SKV Petrol Pump in Kohima were “uprooted and taken away” on Sunday night.

Take a look at the comparison picture below:

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Meyase added saying “The Kohima Smart City Development Limited wish to render that these plantations are public property and thus to treat them with due diligence”.

He appealed, reminded and requested all citizens to “desist from such activities for the general benefit of all”.

Earlier, three flower pots from Mohonkhola, and 18 flower pots in the box cutting area which were planted by the Green Team Kohima were also reportedly “stolen”. The uprooted flowers were then thrown nearby.

As plants and pots along the roadside disappeared, popular YouTube comedy channel ‘Dreamz Unlimited’ took a sarcastic dig on the incidents through a 6:57 minute video sending its “message to the thieves”.

Titled as “Thief of the Season” (The flower pot thief), the video which was published on September 18 has garnered 4,90,798 views till the filing of this report. Check out the video here:

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However, amid such reports, some citizens have voluntarily contributed potted plants placing them by the roadside and on pathways in Kohima town.

Different types of plants in different shapes and sizes placed along the streets of Kohima town have added to the beauty of the city and the contributions of these locals cannot go unnoticed. Here are some photos of potted plants on the street: