In Dimapur town, almost all government-owned lands have “totally privatised” much before the government of India decided to embrace economic reforms towards privatisation of government assets. In the light of the “privatisation” of government properties since the 80s, it appears out of place (though legally tenable) that an eviction drive could take place in Dimapur on Monday. The Fire Service department, armed with administrative order, demolished structures on reportedly, encroached department land with police protection. To suggest that the evicted or affected persons were encroachers may not be technically correct, since, the affected members showed what were supposed to be official documents such as allotment order (s) and patta(s) to prove that they were not encroachers but legal title deed holders. The same is the case with acres upon acres of government lands that once occupied the prime spots of Dimapur not too long ago. The manner in which the land revenue branch in collusion with encroachers and other officials have granted No Objection Certificate (NoC) and pattas has to be seen to be believed. Almost all lands of department such as Supply, Excise, Geology & Mining, PWD, PHE, Supply, various branches under Veterinary & Animal Husbandry DIC, Industries, Prison and jail, education, medical and even police colonies etc, today belong to individuals. While Monday’s eviction drive may have seem legally right in as far as the department’s prerogative was involved; it is lamentable that other government departments whose lands have been totally privatised, have done precious little to reassert their title deeds. The issue of blatant encroachment on government lands had been reported and commented in this newspaper since 1990 but somehow the government ignored the concerns. If encroachment is almost legalised as in Dimapur, it is a small wonder that even national highways and roads have been “privatised”. The encroachment syndrome in Dimapur has also ensured that even drains in public places no longer exist and which has been the main cause for inundation and flooding. In a recent press statement, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee, while accusing the ruling NPF-led DAN of conniving in issuing pattas on encroached highway areas in Dimapur, had even gone to the extent of demanding that those officials and staff responsible be identified and book and awarded due punishment. Well, that may be the right response but given the fact that such an action would be like asking for the moon; there is no way that the government ever or will have, the political will to do just that. The time has come and perhaps late too, that the state authorities need to tighten against encroachment of government and public lands especially in Dimapur. Unless there is strict enforcement of rule and unless officers and staff are made accountable for their wrong actions, the problem will continue. The negative and adverse impact of rampant encroachment caused to public themselves in Dimapur is clear. There is a need for setting up a committee to look into past allotments of government lands to public especially in the light of many cases dealing with encroachment or even illegal issuance of pattas.