Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed by Wokha Village Youth organization (WVYO) has decided to impose indefinite bandh along NH 2 passing through Wokha from 20 June 2023 with regard to issues concerning ongoing two-lane construction of NH2 from KM 72.40 to KM 83 within Wokha district.
A press statement from its President Chibenthung P Kikon and General Secretary Echungthung Murry stated that many discrepancies were seen and while the JAC was initiated under its banner to approach the concerned authorities for road development as per the specifications of the contract DPR.
Towards this end, the JAC said it approached Deputy Commissioner Wokha requesting his urgent attention and action towards the same. Following this, DC Wokha issued a Circular inviting all stakeholders for a joint inspection on the “issues related to the ongoing construction works” on 20 May 2023.
The joint inspection was carried out and discrepancies were identified in 106 locations along the said stretch.
Read more: Discrepancies found in 106 different locations in NH 61 road construction in Wokha Village: WVYO
The JAC further submitted an ultimatum to DC Wokha to “take swift action to remove these encroachments within the Right of Way (ROW) within the next 20 days from the date of this ultimatum.”
“PWD (NH) officials, TTC Infra Company, line departments and JAC including the apparent negligence exhibited by the district administration and PWD (NH) officials in clearing all occupied spaces along the ROW and the problems with landowners who despite receiving compensation, continued to erect structures within the ROW wills some even declining to provide space for the ROW, thereby undermining the effectiveness of the compensation process,” the WVYO said.
It added that the JAC informed him of our inference that such negligence suggested either one of the possibilities; either the affected landowners did not receive full compensation, or there was a more complex conspiracy at play.
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The WVYO said that ultimatum having lapsed already, it will impose indefinite bandit along the said stretch starting from 6:00 AM, June 20. 2023 while placing further demands to be fulfilled.
As such it said the concerned authority must address all 106 marked discrepancies within the ROW and “the contractor must reconstruct/rectify the pavement alignments, drainages and all substandard retaining walls, breast walls, and culverts along the entire stretch following rectification of the ROW by appropriate authority.”
Adding that the distribution of compensation was unequal, with some beneficiaries receiving up to Rs.70-80 Lakhs, the organisation asked the authority to immediately “examine this alarming discrepancy” and “initiate proceedings against those involved in misappropriation of compensation funds which totals up to a Rs. 18 crores.”
The association has stated that administration, police, paramilitary forces, medical services including ambulance and private vehicles carrying patients or dead people, fire and emergency services, postal services and the press will be exempted from the bandh.
In this line, the WVYO also added that the DC “Wokha shall be solely held responsible and accountable in the event of any authority or individual attempting to undermine, obstruct, or hinder the genuine demands stated.”
Read more: Wokha Village Youth Organisation gives ultimatum to district admin regarding issues on NH-61
