EMPHASISES ON COORDINATION FOR QUALITY & TIMELY COMPLETION
Public Works Department (Roads & Bridges) minister G Kaito Aye has asserted that contractors of the Foothills Road were legally bound by agreements with the department, and not with “external” parties.
He said this to media persons following inspection of the Foothills Road construction at Thilixu on Wednesday. Kaito was reacting to the ongoing impasse between the Nagaland Foothills Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) and contractors regarding signing of agreements with the committee.
Kaito acknowledged the concerns of the NFHRCC, but pointed out that the department could not force the contractors to sign such agreements outside of government contractual rules.
He acknowledged the aspirations of the 12 tribes and Naga public for completion of the Foothills Road that stretched from Khelma to Tizit, and also their role in coordinating with the department to ensure the project’s quality and timely completion.
But, while recognising the NFHRCC’s intent to sign undertakings with the contractors, Kaito elaborated that though he did not object to signing of the agreements, the contractors could not be forced by the PWD (R&B) to sign such agreements.
Reminding all that the contractors had contracts with the department, he said the NFHRCC should question him on the actions he would take in case the contractors failed in carrying out their work properly, pointing out that accountability rested with the department.
He urged the NFHRCC to trust his leadership and hold him accountable if the project failed, while also lamenting why the committee was questioning him too much for a Rs. 148.50-crore project, when the state was dreaming for lakhs and thousands of crores.
“If I fail, who knows I might even resign on moral grounds,” he remarked, appealing the NFHRCC to let the work proceed instead of raising undue objections. The minister also criticised the committee’s demand that its members be present during the project’s launch, stressing the importance of upholding the rule of law.
“What is unnecessary should not be forced,” he stated, wondering why the contractors should require permission from a third party to commence work. If required, he said he was even ready to give a statement in the Assembly, but added that it would not be good to embarrass “somebody” in the process.
“If the Assembly questions what has gone wrong, I as a minister would have to reply. How it started, what was their word? Halfway, what they are saying?” he stated.
He mentioned that when any agreement was reached, both the parties should agree to sign it. But, in case of one-party agreement, he pointed out that nobody would agree to sign it.
He feigned ignorance over the signing of any agreement between the contractors and NFHRCC, both by him and the department.
He appealed the committee to be accommodative and ensure that the project was not hampered or delayed, citing the urgency for the Nagas to have good roads.
While appreciating the committee’s intentions and its wish for quality roads, he emphasised that procedural order must be maintained.
He clarified that apart from the national highways, the state government had not made any payment for land compensation. Kaito revealed that while the original plan was for an all-weather single-lane road, chief minister Neiphiu Rio upgraded it to a two-lane road.
Irrespective of whether the central government provided immediate assistance or not, he assured that the state government was committed to sourcing funds to complete the upgraded road.
He said the chief minister had set a target for black-topping the Dimapur-Tizit stretch by March 26. During his inspection of the ongoing road construction at Thilixu, Kaito also appealed for public cooperation.
Questioned on the request for drainage construction, he replied that he would look into the matter, but urged citizens to cooperate by allowing land to be used for drainage outlets.
Regarding municipal funding, he mentioned that while the state government would contribute to municipal development, more fund was expected from the Central Grant through the 16thFinance Commission.
Expressing dissatisfaction with past infrastructure projects, he noted that Nagaland remained an “under-performing” state, but added that he would question engineers and technical personnel for past compromises on road quality.
He stated that he wanted to ensure that roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) were completed, to let the central government know that the Nagas had improved the quality of roads.
On the occasion, Industries & Commerce adviser Hekani Jakhalu expressed gratitude to Kaito for personally inspecting road construction at Thilixu, adding that party leaders had been pressing her for action on the matter for nearly two years.
It may be noted that Thilixu Road construction is being funded by the state government, with 3.4 km of the road having been constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 4.75 crore.