The Civil Society Organizations of Peren Town and Peren Village Council have said that the ongoing blockade on NH-129A is solely directed towards National Highways & Infrastructure Development Cooperation Ltd (NHIDCL) for its lackadaisical attitude to construct the 2.8 Km (Approx) stretch of the NH-129A Package-1 (Peren Town Portion) as per the Original PR and Contract Agreement. The Joint Action Committee (JAC), in a press statement, regretted the inconvenience to commuters of the road connecting Nagaland and Manipur.

The blockade at Tepuiki Bridge has entered the third day on Wednesday.

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Highlighting the developments on the construction of NH-129, the JAC stated that in 2018, landowner villages issued No Objection Certificate (NOC) after the initial survey was undertaken.

“It is noteworthy to mention that DPR for the project, the Land Acquisition Plan (LAP), the marking for RoW and all other required technical matters/survey were carried out under the direction and supervision of NHIDCL. And there was never a question or adverse report on technical infeasibility in the Town portion”, it stated.

The Committee mentioned that the first structural damage assessment was carried out in 2020, however, a second assessment was necessitated as it was observed that the assessment amount was on the higher side. The second assessment was done with a reduced RoW (right of way), which was against the PR and Contract Agreement and without proper consultation with stakeholders which led to uproar in town.

A third assessment was again carried out but no sanction was accorded and the issue was kept pending. The organizations therefore sought intervention of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and the then UDA Chairman T.R. Zeliang to help redress the grievances and subsequently, a series of correspondences were communicated between CM and Union Minister of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and Managing Director NHIDCL, it stated.

On 6 June 2022, Nitin Gadkari communicated to the CM to acquire 18m RoW in Peren Town Portion and hand over the RoW encumbrance free within 30 days.

The fourth damage assessment was carried out and duly forwarded and accepted by the State Government who then forwarded the same to NHIDCL for sanction.

“But an apparent negative report by the then Executive Director NHIDCL Kohima, MS Deol led to unwanted apprehension for sanction of the damage compensation amount. And thereafter NHIDCL, rather than accepting the report of the State Government and honoring the direction of the Union Minister MoRTH, had carried out a technical feasibility survey which was not required at that point of time”, the statement said.

According to the committee, on 24/11/2022, the Director (Technical) from Headquarter visited Peren Town without the knowledge of even the District Administration. On receiving information of his visit, the public of Peren waited to meet and brief him about the situation “but the Director (Technical) did not bother to step down from his car and apparently “surveyed/verified’ the site from the comfort of his car.”

“And not long after this visit, we were made to understand that the Director has submitted a blanket report stating that 2.8 kms stretch is technically unviable and will have a huge collateral damage.” NHIDCL used the report to deny the people of Peren its due development as per DR and Contract Agreement, the JAC claimed.

The CSOs and PVC reiterated that the landowners were willing to give their lands “free of cost” and without any objections “for the sake of greater good of the people for a good and sustainable road”. They hoped that NHIDCL will resolve the issue at the earliest by keeping its word for construction of the road within the specified RoW and end “the mental and emotional difficulties that the people undergo, every single time, the damage assessment committee takes up assessment for RoW.”

The organizations assured their support to the state government, NHIDCL or contractor for development of the town but appealed that the works are executed as per direction given by Union Minister MoRTH for built-up area of 2.5 kms (Peren Town portion) and 300 mtrs (Peren Kipeuzang) on NH-129A.

“We will not accept anything less of this and will firmly stand our ground for justice and intensify our agitation if the situation so warrant”, Joint Action Committee stated.