Kuzholuzo Nienu, MLA and Leader of NPF Legislature Party, has slammed National Highway & Infrastructure Development Cooperation Limited (NHIDCL) for its lackadaisical attitude and for not provided any remedial action or guarantees for the safety of public life even after the 4 July 2023 tragedy on National Highway 29 where rock fall at New Chümoukedima killed two persons.

“NHIDCL cannot fool the Naga public with its but should immediately stand up for the safety of the people” Nienu stated in a press release and claimed that “many unsettled rocks have multiple cracks on the mountain layers, which allows more tragedies to happen at any time as rock falling is continuing till date along the stretch.”

Download Nagaland Tribune app on Google Play

The MLA mentioned Nagaland Pollution Control Board’s warning to NHIDCL about the unsafe cuttings of the earth for the construction of the four-lane road, which the latter had ignored.

He also said that it was unfortunate that NHIDCL was blaming the state government “for not providing the necessary land for the road’s construction”.

How come NHIDCL is calling its negligence a natural disaster? Nienu asked when even the layman would know that it can be dangerous when such cuts are made on steep slopes. He stated that even the Nagaland government had pointed out that blowing up dynamite and the way the earth was cut up was unprofessional.

Nienu urged the state government to immediately launch an independent inquiry committee into the work performance that led to the tragic deaths on 4 July and punished those responsible for the incident.

The leader of NPF Legislature Party further warned the contractor and the NHIDCL with court case if justice was not delivered at the earliest.