Amid the indefinite bandh on the National Highway 2 (Previously NH 61) in Wokha district, the contractor of the road project, TTC Infra India Pvt Ltd has issued a clarification in an attempt “to clear up misunderstandings and/or misperceptions and/or confusion, about what has actually happened with the execution of the contract project.”
The company, in its press release, claimed that since the inception of the execution of the contract, the contractor had been facing obstructions on a daily basis. It stated that on 25th August 2020, it was awarded the contract for the “widening of the existing single/intermediate lane to two lane road, from chainage 72.4km to 83.00km on NH-61” covering the stretch from Longsa to Hammock Resort.
Seven apex civil society organizations of Wokha district – Lotha Hoho, Lotha Eloe Hoho, Lotha Students’ Union, Wokha District Village Councils Chairmen Association, Joint Action Committee, Wokha Town Colonies Chairmen Union, All Commercial vehicle Association, Wokha and Lotha Youth Hoho – have imposed an indefinite bandh on NH 2 demanding ROW, demolishing of structures on compensated land and rectification of substandard works.
Right of way (ROW)
TT Infra India Pvt Ltd said that according to the terms of the contract, the ROW was to be made available to the contractor, within a period of 30 days from the date of execution of the contract Agreement (5th November 2020). However, ROW was issued in certain stretches only on 9th March 2022 where the contract project has been completed according to the specifications. The contractors alleged that the ROW for 10 per cent of the contract project, has still not been made available. “This would mean, that the MoRTH, the State Government, the District Administration and the Office of the Chief Engineer PWD(NH) on one side and land owners on the other side, have not been able to resolve issues relating to land compensation,” the company stated.
The contractor is not in any way involved in the process of securing the ROW, TTC Infra India Pvt Ltd asserted.
Buildings on compensated land
The company maintained that the buildings and structures which are “yet to be demolished” are actually outside the ROW and that the Office of the Chief Engineer PWD (NH), as well as the Deputy Commissioner, Wokha can verify the same.
It is therefore wrong and motivated to impute any shortcoming upon the contractor, in relation to the non-demolition of “compensated buildings and structures”, TTC Infra India Pvt Ltd said.
Substandard work
On being accused of carrying out substandard work in constructing drains, retaining walls, culverts and the carriage way, the contractor asserted that the Chief Engineer PWD (NH), has found no fault with the execution of any of the components of the contract project, “It is therefore, incomprehensible as to why such an allegation is being raised”, the company said.
Demands for machineries and man power
Reiterate that the contractor is not involved in securing ROW, TTC Infra India Pvt Ltd alleged that section of people in Wokha town area had demanded machineries and man power to demolish “buildings and structures already compensated” which it did not wish to be part of.
“Those considering themselves, to be espousing public interest have impeded the completion of the contract project by stopping and obstructing work, detaining workmen and labourers, physically manhandling them, mentally and physically abusing the Officials and agents of the contractor and more,” the company stated.
Closure of work, monetary loss
The Company stated that due to protests, work had to be completed halted on several occasions – 540 days from 25.08.2020 to 22.03.2022 and then from 15.05.2023 till date. These obstructions for over two years in a project involving only Rs. 65,00 Cr have caused great monetary loss to the company, it said.
Read more: TR Zeliang inspects NH 2 stretch in Wokha, orders acquisition of unused compensated land
In view of all these issues, TTC Infra India Pvt Ltd declared that it has become near impossible for the contractor to complete the contract project. In these circumstances, the contractor has written to the State and the contract Authority i.e. the Chief Engineer PWD (NH), for de-scoping the contract to the extent executed till date. The issues raised by the civil society organisation in Wokha district are not the responsibility of the contractor, it stated.
The Company maintained that the bandh on NH 2 had been imposed due to misunderstandings and regretted that “a picture has been painted to show as if the contractor is culpable of shortcomings”.
Read more: Wokha CSOs to intensify indefinite bandh along NH 2 if authorities fail to give positive response
