Medziphema Town Youth Organisation (MTYO) has accused ECI Engineering and Construction Company Ltd currently engaged in executing four-laning of Dimapur-Kohima road of causing dust pollution in Medziphema area.
In a press communiqué issued by its president Asazo T Kuotsu, vice president Pekhoubikho Yalie, general secretary Mhasilevi Kuotsu, legal adviser Visa Vüprü and information & publicity secretary Kevisetso Rino, MTYO explained that it was compelled to publish grievances of the people, particularly of the hazardous dust pollution caused from the ongoing four-lane project works due to continued lackadaisical and self-centred attitude of the ECI company, which was working between Patkai bridge and Piphema.
Claiming that public leaders had repeatedly appealed to the company for watering the whole stretch of road under construction, they alleged that till date the company barely watered the area once or twice a day and in a haphazard manner, for which the road dried up within minutes of spraying water. The organisation demanded that the company as a responsible contractor must abide by rules of the contract order and take responsibility, even as a humanitarian obligation, to water and keep the whole stretch of road-cutting works free from dust at anytime of the day even
The press communiqué observed that ECI had not taken effective action of watering the length and breadth of road-cutting areas despite repeated appeals by various public leaders and organisations of Medziphema since the work began late last year.
It added that representatives of Medziphema Village Council, Medziphema Town Mechü Krotho, MTYO, Chairmen’s Forum, Medziphema area villages and ward 4 and 5 of Medziphema town had already approached the contractor and submitted written requests to take necessary steps to contain dust pollution.
MTYO further claimed that it had discussed the matter with ECI officials and even submitted representations to them on a number of occasions, but everything had fallen on deaf ears till today.
The organisation alleged that dust pollution-related diseases had taken a heavy toll on the denizens, particularly children, and added that the matter could validated from the town’s lone hospital or from medicine outlets, pharmacies, health workers, etc.
Mentioning that it could not compromise on the rights of people, MTYO asked ECI to initiate and implement appropriate measures to arrest the unprecedented level of dust pollution along the whole stretch in its jurisdiction at the earliest without excuses. It also demanded that the whole stretch of road should remain moist or dust free.
Cautioning that any attempt by ECI to prolong its negligent attitude could lead to unforeseen and ugly incidents, the organisation made the company liable to settle the matter in the interest of a cordial relationship with the public,
MTYO also urged the media to conduct detailed study and report on the serious health implications of dust pollution, which could serve as an eye-opener for the people.