State deputy chief minister TR Zeliang, who is also minister in-charge of National Highway, has asserted that good road connectivity was the most important sector for state to grow in every aspect.
The deputy chief minister made this remark during a meeting with NHIDCL held on Tuesday to review and discuss issues related to the projects executed by NHIDCL in Nagaland.
In cases where damage compensation had been paid and received by landowners, but were disallowing contractors to carry out work, the deputy chief minister has directed the district administration to give one final notice for evacuation and demolition by themselves.
Upon expiry of the notice period, the deputy chief minister has authorized the administration to use whatever means possible to demolish the structures and give a clear RoW to the contractors to carry out the work.
He said that majority of the people cannot be made to suffer due to vested interest of a few. At the meeting, a total of 19 issues on various stretches of road were flagged and discussed in detail for resolution. Out of 19 issues discussed, 15 were related to land acquisition.
In this regard, the deputy chief minister directed the respective district administration to immediately resolve within the month of February and submit action taken report. “This is important as working season will soon be over with early onset of monsoon in the region,” Zeliang said.
The deputy chief minister also asked the district administration to seek the assistance of the GBs and village council chairman wherever required to expedite resolution of land acquisition issues.
At the meeting, Zeliang also expressed dissatisfaction with the slope protection measures on Dimapur-Kohima 4-lane road. In this regard, the contractor M/s Maccaferri brought to attention that there were some issues related to RoW as NHIDCL office did not have the record of the initial RoW issued back in 2013-14.
In this regard, the deputy chief minister directed NHIDCL to get in touch with NHAI office and find the record as it was NHAI which initially carried out the land acquisition prior to the coming of NHIDCL in the State.
The road projects discussed included Peren-Dimapur– Pkg-II & V; Dimapur-Kohima–Pkg-I, II & III; Kohima Bypass- Pkg – I, II, III & IV; Kohima-Jessami – Pkg-II, III, IV & V; Akhegwo to Avangkhu – Pkg-I & II.
In conclusion, deputy chief minister asked the ED (P) Kohima to coordinate with his office and finalise the tour programme of the National Highways under NHIDCL at the earliest.
The meeting was attended by NHIDCL executive director (P) Kohima, deputy commissioner (DC) Chumukedima, Phek and Meluri, ADC Jalukie representing DC office Peren and revenue officer from DC office Kohima.