Member of Legislative Assembly, Kevipodi Sophie said on the first day of the Fifth Session of the Fourteenth Nagaland Legislative Assembly that the its is imperative to exert control over any agency or contractor working in the State. The government must be involved in facilitating, monitoring and controlling the activities of this agency (NHIDCL) rather than allowing them to operate with uncheck authority created by the Central Government, Sophie said while raising the issue of the delay in the NH-29 (New NH-2/A-1) from Lerie to Mao Gate.
In his starred question, the MLA had asked the National Highways department about the Observation/Recommendation of the Technical Fact-Finding Committee on the stretch of the highway to which Deputy Chief Minister and Minister-in-charge PWD (National Highways), TR Zeliang replied that the Committee is yet to submit its observations/recommendations as it has not received documents relating to the project from the NHIDCL.
The Minister-in- charge also said that the project in question is not only interstate connectivity but connects up to Myanmar but there has been problems from the beginning till today such as land owners problem and the sou moto PIL case filed by High Court to complete the project within six months and informed that the matter is pending in the Supreme Court of India.
Zeliang also said that the State Government constituted the Fact Finding Technical Team to examine the details of the construction of the ongoing Kohima-Moa NH -2/A/1 from Lerie to Mao Gate and that the Committee had written thrice to the NHIDCL to provide them the required documents like DPR, contract agreement and milestones but the agency has replied that it cannot provide the documents since the matter is pending in the court.
To this MLA Sophie highlighted that the scheduled date of completion was 22nd April 2022, however an extension of 314 day was granted moving the new deadline to 2nd March 2023 but the road remains to be in a deplorable condition with frequent vehicle breakdowns and landslide caused by inadequate drainage maintenance. He said that the road’s condition is mostly affecting students and those in need of medical care.
The road has gone from bad to worse after it was taken over by NHIDCL, the MLA of Southern Angami I Constituency alleged.
“I am not blaming the present government or any individual but I strongly believe it is time to review our agreement with the central government and take corrective action to address this pressing issue” he said, stressing that the State Government must be prudent in facilitating, monitoring and controlling the activities of such agencies.
“NH 29 now NH 2 is the first National Highway in Nagaland and and is economically and strategically important not only to our state but also to Manipur and beyond. However, the current road design is unstable and incapable of accommodating 16-22 excel vehicle unless a full fledged two-lane road is constructed along with the necessary bridge reconstruction. This is essential to prevent potential hazard and ensure the safety of our people”, Sophie stated.
Er. Kropol Vitsu, MLA and Advisor for Prison, Printing and Stationery, supplementing to Deputy CM TR Zeliang, highlighted the 13 km stretch of the highway is in pathetic condition and is going on for so long and many years. He informed the House that he spoke to the concern authority in Delhi “but they are not concentrating in our area. Maybe this was because we had not presented our case properly or given good attention to the concern authority.”
The MLA of Southern Angami 11 Constituency appealed to the National Highways Department, Nagaland to maintain and complete the existing stretch of work which he alleged was being delayed on the pretext of land owners’ complaints which he maintained is not a real issue. Vitsu said that the people are not complaining against the government’s decision and appealed the government not to make excuses to use land compensation issue. He said if the Committee kept mentioning court cases, the contractors will start taking advantages.
