Back in 2013, when this Historic Project was started the Hon’ble Minister Shri. Kaito was not the Minister In-charge of the PWD (R & B) . Therefore, Committee on several occasions explained, deliberated and tried to educated him about the Extra-Ordinary Project. But despite our best efforts and endeavors it seems Hon’ble Minister In-charge is not capable to understand the Concept of the Foothills Road till date which is very unfortunate for the entire State as a Minister In-charge he ought to understand the Historic Project before general public understands. But now the issue is totally reversed general public has already understood the Historic Concept but the responsible Hon’ble Minister In-charge is still in the state of confusion and puzzle despite of repeated explanation through print and social media. In the given situation if a question is asked to any school student what is Foothills Road? Without any hesitation it will say “It is an Extra-ordinary Project”. Having seen the level of understanding of the present Minister In-charged with regard to the Foothills Concept the Committee having no option available therefore humbly appeals to the Hon’ble Chief Minister to kindly intervene and educate him through all means as the understanding of the Hon’ble Minister In-Charge with the People’s project is Paramount.
On 7th February 2025, Hon’ble Minister In-charge PWD (R & B) Shri. Kaito invited all the 12 Apex Tribal Hohos at Kohima and opinions were sought from the HoHos with regard to Implementation Agreement. Thereon, all HoHos made it clear that unless and until an Implementation Agreement is signed by the unsigned Contractors the HoHos will not allow to execute the work in their respective jurisdiction. Thus, being the situation, the Hon’ble Minister Incharge Shri. Kaito assured that within three four days concerned department will invite unsigned Contractors and the Committee and thereon after rectification if any Agreement will be signed and work will be started.
However, against his assurance to the 12 Apex Tribal Hohos Shri. Achumbemo Kikon the Hon’ble MLA, M/S JK Construction and M/S Chabou & Co were allowed to start the illegal construction without even consulting the concerned PWD (R & B) department. Therefore, the deliberate inaction on the part of the Minister In-Charge is highly illegal, unbecoming and uncalled for, who is one of the senior most Minister in the Opposition-less Govt.
On 21st February 2025, so called launching of Foothills Road at Baghty Division was made by M/S JK Construction and M/S Chabou & Co under the initiative of Hon’ble MLA Shri Achumbemo without a single official from the concerned department as well the Committee is highly questionable as Hon’ble MLA Shri, Achumbemo is neither a concerned PWD Minister nor an Advisor, then as to how and as to who had authorized Shri. Achumbemo to go against the resolution of 12 Apex Tribal Hohos further as to why Hon’ble MLA had violated the Hon’ble Minister Kaito’s assurance to 12 Apex Tribal Hohos on 7th February to the effect that concerned department will invite all the unsigned firms and Committee to hammer out an amicable solution.
Thus, in the given situation if Hon’ble Minister Kaito had directed Hon’ble MLA Shri. Achenbemo to go for illegal Launching on 21-02-2025, under Baghty Division. Then, in that view of the matter the Hon’ble Minister In-charge Shri.Khaito had to apologize to the 12 Apex Tribal HoHos as he is also fully aware of, that the 12 Apex Tribal HoHos will not allow the unsigned Firms to execute the work unless and until they signed the Agreement with the NFHRCC. More so, the Minister Incharge also fully assured on 07-02-2025 to the 12 Apex Tribal HoHos that within three four days concerned department will invite both Committee and unsigned Firm to have a joint sitting with the view to hammer out an amicable solution.
And if Shri. Achembemo the Hon’ble MLA had forcibly launched on 21-02-2025 at his own whims then in that view of the matter Shri. Achumbemo Hon’ble MLA have to apologize to 12 Apex Tribal HoHos/NFHRCC and to the concerned PWD (R & B) department for illegally intruding upon the jurisdiction of the PWD (R & B) meaning thereby he had grossly violated the 12 Apex Tribal HoHos resolution and illegally intruded upon the jurisdiction of the PWD ( R & B)
As he is neither Minister In-charged nor Advisor of the PWD ( R & B) department but he is just a mere MLA (40 Bhandari) without portfolio.
Time and again, it is reiterate that in Democracy the voice of the public is paramount therefore whosoever it may whatsoever position he/she may holds cannot undermined or suppress the voice of the public and if any one intends to do so will face the consequence as enough damaged has been done to the Naga Society therefore the Naga Public caution not to act beyond the boundary. As far as Nagaland Foot hills Road is concerned it is crystal clear that NFHRCC/HoHos/Naga Public are the sole owner, department nodal agent and contractor to execute assigned contract works. Therefore, if any Firm/Contractor executes work without an Agreement with the Owner the same will be utterly illegal and unjustified and despite of repeated pleadings if they persist severe action will be initiated against those unscrupulous Firms. Having agreement with the nodal agent/concerned department is also proper but trying to avoid agreement with the Owner is very illegal and disastrous.
It is also made it clear that since 2013, the Implementation Agreement is keep on signing by the Foothill’s contractors without any hue and cry when the present Hon’ble Minister In-charge was not PWD (R & B) Minister. In 2013. When this Historic Project was started the concerned department having known the Extra-ordinary characters of the People’s Project Committee was requested by the concerned department to seek the Contractors and accordingly committee had acceded to the request made by the department and forwarded the contractors to the department and those contractors humbly signed an Agreement with the Committee and executed the works and duly received their bill.
Therefore, the present Hon’ble Minister In-Charge ought to seek advice from his predecessor so that he can able to take forward this Extra-ordinary Project and eventually the aspiration and desire of the Naga Public will be fulfilled. It was sometime in the month of August 2024, Committee had pleaded to the concerned department to enter into Tripartite Agreement between Department/Committee/Contractors with the view to avoid any misunderstanding.
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However, department advised Committee to enter bilateral Agreement between Contractors and Committee. Whereas, in view of the press statements made by the Minister In-charged Shri. Khaito it is understood that the Ministry In-charged is not aware of what is happening in his department as a Minister In-Charge it is his bounden duty on the part of the concerned department to keep him informed and vice-versa it is also imperative on the part of the concerned Minister to keep his department in order. Therefore, Committee fervently appealed to the Hon’ble Minister In-Charge Shri. Kaito to kindly speak in the public domain after proper verifications of the facts don’t try to satisfy your brain by making unqualified big words but before you utter the words let the word of your mouth be passed through your clean mind then Nagaland will progress and True Change will come to our Nagaland State.
Nagaland is the land of Festivals therefore while observing festival after festival many important public projects has been buried under the grave meaning “Money finished but works not finished”. Nagaland has become graveyard of projects for instance:
(1). Nagaland High Court Complex:
(i). Construction started in 2007.
(ii). Nagaland Government has allegedly withdrawn Rs. 22.42 Crore from the State exchequer against the construction of Judges’ bungalows before an area was earmarked.
(iii). The Government allegedly withdrew Rs. 44.24 Lakh against electrification and water supplies at the project site whereas the basic structure of the High Court building was yet to be completed.
(iv). Around same time with Nagaland, Tripura, Meghalaya and Manipur have started. Other states completed in 2013 and started operational and delivering Justice.
(2). Dimapur Stadium almost 20 Years in Making:
(i). DYRS took up the project in December 2005.
(ii). The Original Estimate Rs. 60.57 Crore.
(iii). Revised to Rs. 134.99 Crore.
(iv). But not yet completed within twenty years.
(3). 40 NEC Road Projects remained Pending.
(4). PMGSY road since 2001 not satisfactorily completed.
The above mentioned projects were started by signing terms and conditions with the concerned department but utterly failed. Therefore, NFHRCC/HoHos/Naga Public don’t want this Historic Extra-ordinary Foothills Project to meet the same fate as enough damaged has been caused to the Nagaland State through mismanagement and corruption. Therefore, Committee/HoHos/Naga Publics will fight both tooth and Nail for this Historic Project.
Issued and Published by :
Publicity and Media Cell. NFHRCC
26/02/25