A joint meeting of Nagaland Foot Hill Road Construction Committee (NFHRCC), 11 tribe hohos and legislators have resolved that the ongoing Doyang bridge construction should be completed under any circumstance within this working season.
During the four-hour long meeting held at Hotel Japfü, Kohima on Friday, NFHRCC convener Supu Jamir, general secretary W Lemba Chang and assistant general secretary Chenithung Humtsoe, in a press note, said that the house also decided that no further extension of time would be granted, and warned of initiating appropriate action against the firm if the deadline was not met.
The meeting also resolved to urge the department concerned to supervise the Doyang bridge construction with utmost care and not to compromise workmanship under any circumstances. In the event of detection of any negligence on the part of the department concerned, the official responsible would be immediately placed under suspension.
The house further resolved to urge the government to construct jeepable/motorable road before the onset of monsoon season, which should be executed by the department concerned under the strict supervision of NFHRCC/hohos and affected area MLAs.
Urging the government to constitute a border committee comprising affected area MLAs and department concerned so safeguard the State’s territorial integrity, the meeting also appealed to Nagaland Legislative Assembly speaker to include the Foothill Road as public importance agenda in the ensuing Assembly session.
Finally, it was also resolved that if the same did not materialize, appropriate action would be initiated as deemed fit in the interest of Naga public.
‘PMO to declare foothill road as a mega project’
Correspondent adds: Meanwhile, NFHRCC convenor, Supu Jamir, addressing a press conference after the meeting, claimed that the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) would very soon declare foothill road project as a mega project.
However, till such time, he said the committee would request the government to sanction funds to construct a jeepable road as a precursor to the proposed mega project since the latter may take some time in getting executed.
He disclosed that the meeting with the elected members was “fruitful” and that the house resolved on some key issues with regard to the future course of action for the road now renamed as “Trans Nagaland Expressway”.
Jamir said the committee at the meeting urged the MLAs to raise the issue during the upcoming assembly session. He said the house also resolved to constitute a committee comprising of elected members from the border areas.
Another important issue discussed during the meeting was clearing certain allegations levelled against the committee in the recent past, he said. The committee expressed its gratitude to state chief minister Neiphiu Rio for taking a keen interest and also rendering necessary help for the project.
Supu said after NFRCC was constituted in the early part of 2013, the committee met with Rio, who was also chief minister then, on July 13 that year during which he assured full support to the project and termed the same as the road to Nagaland’s granary.
During that time, he said the chief minister assured the committee that the government would take care of all the funding and further directed the committee to coordinate with the concerned department for necessary technicalities.
In accordance with his assurance, Jamir said the chief minister initially sanctioned Rs 40 crore and later another Rs 30 crore for the project which helped in carrying the project this far.
Further, Jamir disclosed that during a meeting with deputy chief minister, Y Patton on December 5, last, the latter assured the committee that the project would be taken up on priority.
With these assurances from leaders, Jamir said the committee was hopeful that the project would see the light of day very soon.
