NPF legislature party leader Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu, MLA, has urged the state government to immediately to set up an independent committee to inquiry into the work performance that led to July 4 rockslide incident on NH-29 near old police check gate Chümoukedima, causing deaths of two persons and injuries on three others.
In a press statement, NPF leader said the party would be compelled to drag both the contractor and the NHIDCL to the court in order to save lives if justice was not delivered at the earliest.
Azo sated that so far NHIDCL group has not provided any remedial action or guarantees for the safety of public life, even after July 4 tragedy.
NPF leader stated that Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NPCB) had made repeated requests and warnings to the group company about the safety measures and destructive environment caused by the unsafe cuttings of the earth. However, Azo said NHIDCL did not respond to the incident and turned a deaf ear claiming the tragic incident as a natural disaster.
NPFLP leader said it was “very unfortunate” on the part of NHIDCL to blame the state government for not providing the necessary land for the road’s construction. He said it was understandable even to the layman that it can be dangerous when such cuts were made on steep slopes.
Azo said even the state government had pointed out that using dynamite for rock blasting and the way the earth was cut was unprofessional. “How come, then, that the NHIDCL is calling its negligence a natural disaster?” Azo questioned.
Stating that human lives were precious, he said NHIDCL cannot fool the Naga public with its lackadaisical attitude. NPF leader said NHIDCL should immediately stand up for the safety of the people, as many unsettled rocks have multiple cracks on the mountain layers, which would allow more tragedies to happen at any time as rock falling was continuing till date along the stretch.