Alleging breach of agreement by National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL) with regard to construction of NH-129A (Package 1), the Peren Village Council (PVC) has threatened to withdraw all NOCs (within one month with effect from June 30, 2023), file PIL and sue NHIDCL/state government for all damages and restrict interstate movement of vehicles along NH-129A (Package 1).
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In a representation addressed to the state chief minister, Peren Village Council chairman Liamchu Hega, general secretary Kiepeu Zelui and Peren village head GB Peusi Hegwang stated that union minister for Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) Nitin Gadkari on 3 November 2015 laid the foundation stone for construction of NH-129A.
The village council said that when initial survey was started by NHIDCL sometime in July of 2018, several landowner villages including Peren village had proposed for change in alignment in certain sections of NH-129A but was denied citing that any major change in alignment would require approval of the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways.
However, considering the importance of NH-129A and need to avoid further delays and as requested upon by state government as well as NHIDCL officials led by then general manager, the Peren Village council (PVC) said the No Objection Certificate (NOC) was issued on the premise that NH-129A (Package 1 in particular) would be constructed along the existing route.
It stated that actual construction of NH-129 A (Package1) over a stretch of 17.281 Kms started sometime on December 4, 2020. However, even after a lapse of two years six months, PVC said Peren town stretch of 2.5 km and 300 meters (Peren-Kipeuzang) have not begun and remained incomplete till date.
PVC has, therefore, informed the chief minister that it would be compelled to undertake measures if NHIDCL superimposed its decision, which defied technical logic and sense, undermined the sentiments of the public, and disregard the Union Minister MORTH’s Letter dated 6 June 2022.
The village council has expressed hope that the chief minster would intervene to avoid such a fallout.
On this account of the unaddressed issues, the Civil Society Organisations of Peren Town and Peren Village council have called for ‘indefinite bandh’ of interstate movement of vehicles by blocking NH 129A connecting Nagaland and Manipur (Tepuiki Bridge) on of National Highway 129A package 1 (Peren Town portion) The indefinite blockade will begin from 31 July 2023, CSOs and Peren Village Council notified.
The public has been asked to gather at Govt. Hr. Sec. School Junction at 9:00 AM on Monday from where the mass will march towards Tepuiki Bridge at 9:30 AM. All the commercial establishments in Peren Town have been asked to shut down from 6:00 AM- 4:00 PM, with exemption for pharmacies.
The Civil Society Organisations of Peren Town and Peren Village council also requested the general public to extend support and participate in the agitation “manifesting our resentment and discontentment exhibited towards the public of the Town and the land owners of Peren.”
