In response to the press statements made by the Commissioner & Secretary PWD (Works & Housing) on February 24 under the caption “Foothill Road fully funded, No third Party agreements needed”, the Nagaland Foothill Roads Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) issued a statement disproving various claims and clarifying the ensuing controversy of non-compliance of agreements.
The NFHRCC also asserted that the project is an extra-ordinary Foothills Project which cannot be equated with other normal projects. “Therefore, normal yardsticks cannot be applied in an extra-ordinary project. If departments keep on applying normal yardstick on extra-ordinary project they will never get the right answer and ultimately there will be total chaos in the department as well in the State. It is like giving non-veg to vegetarians and if the same keeps on persisting the dish will turn into insult and intimidation,” stated the NFHRCC.
It further explained why the Foothills Road is an extraordinary project: “Because Landowners are parting their land without even a penny of compensation, Naga Political Groups are not levying any kind of Tax, Chang, Sangtam, Ymkhiung and Khiamniungan are participating in the project without even an inch of land, Project erected on the pillar of Prayer and Fasting, Project was conceptualised and initiated by the Naga public Leaders under the blessings of Apex Tribal Hohos. Therefore, Foothills Road is called an Extra-Ordinary Project.”
The Committeee also reminded on the Nagaland Legislative Assembly passing a resolution to the effect that Foothills Road will be constructed through NEC in September 22, 2022. However, after formation of the new Government, the committee claimed that “there was not even a whisper about the Foothills Project despite of requests and prayers”. With no option, the Committee approached the Governor of Nagaland and fully explained to him about the status of the Project whereby the Govenor wrote a letter to the Union Minister. Armed with the letter along with MP Pangnong’s letter the, NFHRCC members met the Union Minister on December 17, 2023 and explained to him about the project.
“Thereon, the Union Minister assured that he will look into the Project at any cost and as a result of which the Foothills Project was roped in under SASCI (Special Assistance to State for Capital Investment). Consequent upon which on 14-12-2024 the PWD (R & B) department have issued 17 work orders to the tune of Rs. 148.5 Crore as la Phase under SASCI to 14 Firms namely: (1). M/S Medodi Construction & co. (2). M/S N. Chisho swu & sons (3 work orders) (3). M/S T. Albert Angami & co. (4). M/S P. Mha-Tum & Co. (5). M/S Quinker Enterprises (6). M/S 3S Infra (7). M/S. Yanna Enterprises. (8). M/S. A. Pongshi Phom & Sons. (9). M/S. Shangpoh Konyak. (10). M/S. Onkho Construction & Supplier. (11). M/S. Ren Kik-E.Z.J & co. (12). M/S. JK Construction (2 work orders) (13). M/S. Chabou & co. (14). M/S PELLE KHEIZE & CO. As established practiced with regard to Foothills Road Construction the NFHRCC invited all the firms who have got work order to enter an Agreement with the Committee with the view to maintain workmanship and transparency out of 17 work orders in respect of 9 work orders have entered an Agreement with the Committee and eventually started the construction,” stated the NFHRCC.
However, it claimed that the following Firm are refusing to enter an Agreement with the Committee namely: (1). M/S. Yanna Enterprises. (2). M/S. A. Pongshi Phom & Sons. (3). M/S. Shangpoh Konyak. (4). M/S. Onkho Construction & Supplier. (5). M/S. Ren Kik-E.Z.J & Co. (6). M/S. JK Constructions(2 work orders) (7). M/S. Chabou & Co.
“Therefore, the Committee extended the time for entering an Agreement with the committee till 21-12-2024, but the same was ignored. Thus, being the situation the committee members personally requested the concerned Firm to sign an Agreement or even pleaded to send an authorised representative to do the needful. However, they chose to ignore the same. Therefore, the Committee had consultative meeting with Ao Senden, Lotha Hoho and Sumi Hoho on 16-012025, and urged upon the M/S. Ren Kik-E.Z.J & co., M/S. 3K Constructions, M/S. Chabou & Co. to sign an Agreement with the Committee on or before 20-01-2025, failing which it was resolved to cancel the work order of those firms. On 19-01-2025, the Committee had a consultative meeting with the Phom People Council (PPC) and pleaded upon the M/S. A. Pongshi Phom & Sons to sign the Agreement with the Committee on or before 2301-2025, failing which it was resolved to cancel the work order. On 23-01-2025 Committee had a consultative meeting with the Konyak Union (KU) and thereon furnished the Agreement to the KU to be signed by M/S. Yanna Enterprises, M/S. Shangpoh Konyak, M/S. Onkho Construction & Supplier,” added the NFHRCC.
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It also asserted that on January 20, 2025, M/S JK Construction and M/S Chabou & Co collected the Agreement from the committee but did not submit till January 26, 2025. “Therefore, the committee members met Dr. John, Proprietor of M/S JK Construction at his residence on 26-01-2025 evening and thoroughly explained to him as to why Agreement should be signed between Contractor and NFHRCC after much deliberation Dr. John said he will speak to his son who is going to execute the work. However, having no response from him the three Apex Tribal Hohos Ao Senden, Lotha Hoho and Sumi Hoho on 04-02-2025 invited Dr. John Proprietor of JK Construction, M/S Chabou & Co, M/S Ren Kik-E.Z.J & Co, However, to utter surprise Dr. John despite fervent requests and prayers walked out from the meeting for the reasons best known to him. Therefore, having seen the immature character in highly intellectual person the three Apex Tribal Hohos give 5 days time to Lotha Hoho to do the needful with the concerned contractors who got work orders within their jurisdiction and further resolved not to allow the defaulting Firms to execute the work without signing an agreement with the committee. Consequent, upon which the Hon’ble Minister PWD (R & B) invited all the 12 Apex Trial Hohos on 07-02-2025, and resolved that within three four days, the department will sit with the unsigned Contractors and Committee to hammer an amicable solution. However, despite requests advanced by the Committee till date the department is not conveying the said meeting. On 20-02-2025, 12 Apex and Dimapur based Tribal Hohos along with the Committee passed a unanimous resolution to the effect that unsigned firms will not be allowed to execute the construction,” stated the Committee.
It further added, “However, despite of which on February 2025, M/S JK Construction and M/S Chabou & Co had forcibly launched the construction at Baghty Division under the stewardship of Hon’ble MLA Achumbemo Kikon without even consultation with the concerned department snatching the law in their own hands by taking undue advantage of their political power and forcibly launched whereby undermined all the 12 Apex Tribal Hohos/Concerned department and NFHRCC. In this regard, it is made very clear that in Democracy the voice of the people is paramount and supreme. Therefore, whosoever it may, whatsoever position he/she may hold cannot claim any supremacy over the State. However, in the present situation the action of M/S JK Construction and M/S Chabou & Co and more surprisingly the action of Hon’ble MLA Shri. Achumbemo Kikon had totally crushed the voice of the people. It is very confusing to say whether Nagaland State is running through Democratic norms or Autocratic norms? Where everything had been crushed under the knee of political power which undermined all the civilised norms.”
Despite many terms and conditions, the NFHRCC stated, hardly few projects survive but most of the projects remain “unfinished despite the fact that the fund meant for the project is finished”.
Therefore, in order to medicate the situation the NFHRCC asserted that it is tirelessly trying to rescue the unique Project. In the month of August 2023, the Committee pleaded upon the concerned department to enter into Tripartite Agreement between Department/Contractors and Committee with the view to avoid misunderstanding. However, the NFHRCC has claimed that the department advised the committee to enter bilateral Agreement with the Contractors to maintain workmanship. It further added, “Admittedly, since inception 2013 it is also an established practice to enter an Agreement with the Contractors with the view to maintain workmanship, Transparency and to complete the project within the stipulated time frame.”
“Therefore, considering the above facts and circumstances acting in conjunction with the Concept of Foothills Road Project it is well established that the Committee (Hohos/Naga Public) are the owner of this Extraordinary Foothills Project and concerned department is the nodal agent and the Contractors are the one who is going to execute the assigned contract works. Therefore, the committee/owner cannot be labeled as Third Party,” asserted the NFHRCC.
