Zeliangrong Baudi Nagaland (ZBN) and Zeme Council Nagaland (ZCN) have demanded that construction of NH 129-A in Peren district be taken up as per the specification of detailed project report (DPR) and not as per the unilateral decision by ADC Peren and some public leaders in reducing the specification of the proposed 2-lane road.
In a memorandum addressed to commissioner Nagaland, ZBN president CR Zeliang and ZCN president Dr Tumda Newme alleged that the ADC with some public leaders of Peren town had unilaterally recommended reduction of specification of the 2-lane road “for their vested interests”. Further, the two said the unilateral decision had been forwarded to the commissioner without consulting the stakeholders. They said the decision by the ADC not only deprived the compensation rights of several landowners but also deprived the public from having their long cherished 2-lane road.
The two organisations, said the laid down guidelines were clear and insisted that implementing agency NHIDCL and Peren district administration should have no second thoughts on paying damage compensation to deserving people. They said if any landowner’s demand was beyond the entitlement, it was the responsibility of Peren district administration to negotiate the rate of compensation as per the guidelines, instead of compromising the specification of the road. The two-ZBN and ZCN stated that the union ministry of road transport and highway (MoRTH) had accorded sanction for the construction of a 2-lane over NH-129A to boost economic development in Peren district and in the larger interest of Nagaland. They said on completion the road will also serve as an alternative highway to Manipur leading to Myanmar
They pointed out that tendering process for the 2-lane road was completed and work order issued (Package 1A). Under such a situation, they reasoned that there was no reason why status of the road should be changed at this point of time. Claiming that no landowner has refused to part land for construction of the road measuring 18-20 metre wide, the two said that reducing the width to 12-14 metre was “unacceptable” at any cost. ZBN and ZCN warned that in the event of failure to address the grievance, the public of Peren district would be left with no other option but to take appropriate course of action as deemed fit.