North Eastern Council (NEC) secretary Ram Muivah Monday disclosed that NEC has approved and sanctioned an amount of Rs. 188.61 crore for upgradation of 51km Longleng-Tuensang road under North East Road Sector Development Scheme (NERSDS).
Speaking as the special invitee at consultative meeting on rehabilitation and upgradation of Longleng-Tuensang Road under NERSDS held Monday at Sakshi EAC Headquarters, 30km from here, NEC secretary also disclosed that Rs.75 crore has been released as first instalment to the state government recently to enable the state government and PWD to complete the formality at the earliest so the execution of road construction take place without much delay.
In this connection, he urged the state government and the responsible department to carry out the legal formalities of implementation at the earliest so execution of road construction starts at the right time for the benefits of the people of Eastern Nagaland.
He said various road constructions have been taken up in Eastern Nagaland areas keeping in mind that ENPO areas were connected with the rest of other districts of the state.
He said 46km road construction has been completed from Nokzung in Mon district to Longding in Arunachal Pradesh, which was constructed under NERSDS and another road construction has been initiated in Tuensang district funded by the World Bank.
Apart from road construction, Muivah said NEC has been engaging in implementing other projects for the development of Eastern Nagaland areas. The tea plantation and processing has been initiated in Longkhim and Chare area, piggery farming and ginger processing in Hukchang village under Tuensang district.
Ram Muivah said that bringing road connectivity to the far flung areas of North Eastern region was the main objectives of NEC.
He said road construction programme have been initiated under various flagships so the region and its people were connected to each other and to other parts of the country.
He said that no development was possible without peace and unity in the state as well as in North Eastern Region. Muivah said various developmental activities have been accelerated in every state under North Eastern Council from different flagships for the benefits and uplift of north east people.
To materialize all these projects into reality, he said cooperation from the people was vital so that any agencies that worked for the development of the state implement the work programme without any disturbances for the benefits of the people.
Also, speaking at the meeting, Nagaland health and family welfare (H&FW) minister, S Pangnyu Phom said it was a red-letter day for the people of Eastern Nagaland as the long cherished dreams of Eastern people had come true.
He said the road between Longleng and Tuensang was the oldest and vital road which connects not only the people of two districts but entire Eastern people. Pangnyu said it would enable the people to get more connected as well as benefit in social economic development.
He, therefore, urged the land owners and different organizations to desist from asking land compensation and other monetary benefits so that they could see early completion and workmanship on the road.
Pangnyu also said that PDA government was initiating various developmental activities as per as the wishes of the general public of the state. He said various developmental projects in Eastern areas that would benefit the people would be taken up by the PDA government under different work programme and schemes within a few years. To allow development to take place, Pangnyu has appealed to the people to be peaceful, remain united and render cooperation towards the government.
Others who spoke at the meeting included Kejong Chang, MLA, B S Nganlang Phom, MLA, Rev. Dr. Enjo Keikung, DC Longleng, ADC Tuensang, Phom people’s council president, Chang tribal council president and Konyak union Tobu branch president.