Nagaland Foothill Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) has appealed to the PWD (R&B) minister and the department to direct defaulting firms to immediately sign the implementation agreement and commence work and warned that failure to do so could result in cancellation of work orders and awarding the work to firms who were ready to maintain the workmanship.
This was contained in a press release by NFHRCC convenor Supu Jamir, co-convenor Hokiye Yepthomi, general secretary W. Lemba Chang, and assistant general secretary Chenithung Humtsoe after a series of efforts were made to make all contractors involved sign an agreement with NFHRCC.
NFHRCC stressed that the working season was nearly over, and delays could hinder progress on the project. The committee reminded that the Nagaland foothills road was deemed as an extraordinary or people’s project because landowners had parted with their land getting without any compensation and Naga political groups were not levying any kind of tax and also that the project was conceptualised and initiated by the Naga leaders under the blessings of apex tribal hohos.
NFHRCC reminded that in 2013, and as entrusted by the concerned department, it searched for contractors for foothills road construction and accordingly the department issued the work orders to chosen contractors.
Similarly in 2024, NFHRCC said that as entrusted by the department, it searched contractors for four projects and eventually department issued the work orders to M/S S3 Infra for earth work at Tuli Division; M/S Quinker Enterprises for bridge construction over Jungtchu River at Baghty Division; M/S MHA-Tum & Co for Bridge Construction over Sungkhatchu River at Baghty Diviion; M/S Pele Khezhie & Co for Bridge Construction at Tsumang River, Shanthatchu-Liphi Junction, at Baghty Division. NFHRCC said all the above firms had duly signed an implementation agreement with the Committee and started their construction activities.
The committee also disclosed that through joint initiative of NFHRCC and chief minister coupled with strong intervention of governor of Nagaland, the project was roped in under Special Assistance to State for Capital Investment (SASCI).
Thus, on December 14, 2024, the PWD (R & B) department issued 17 work orders to the tune of Rs. 148.5 Crore as 1st Phase under SASCI to 14 Firms namely: (1). M/S Medodi Construction & Co. (2). M/S N. Chisho Swu & Sons (3 work orders) (3). M/S T. Albert Angami & Co. (4). M/S P. Mha-Tum & Co. (5). M/S Quinker Enterprises (6). M/S 3S Infra (7). M/S. Yanna Enterprises. (8). M/S. A. Pongshi Phom & Sons. (9). M/S. Shangpoh Konyak. (10). M/S. Onkho Construction & Supplier. (11). M/S. Ren Kik-E.Z.J & Co. (12). M/S. JK Construction (2 work orders) (13). M/S. Chabou & Co. (14). M/S PELE KHEZHIE & CO.
As established practiced with regard to Foothills Road Construction, the NFHRCC said it invited all the Firms who received the work order to enter into an Agreement with it on December 17, 2024, with the view to maintain workmanship and transparency.
Out of 17 work orders, NFHRCC said 9 work orders are entered as agreement with the committee and eventually started the construction. However, the firms including (1) M/S. Yanna Enterprises. (2). M/S. A. Pongshi Phom & Sons. (3). M/S. Shangpoh Konyak. (4). M/S. Onkho Construction & Supplier. (5). M/S. Ren Kik-E.Z.J & Co. (6). M/S. JK Constructions (2 work orders) (7). M/S. Chabou & Co have refused to enter an agreement with the committee.
Therefore, the committee said it extended the time for entering an Agreement with the committee till December 21, 2024, but again it was ignored.
Thus, the committee said its members personally requested the concerned firms to sign an agreement or even pleaded to send an authorised representative to do the needful. However, NFHRCC said they chose to ignore the same.
Therefore, the committee said it had consultative meeting with Ao Senden, Lotha Hoho and Sumi Hoho on January 16, 2025, and urged upon the M/S. Ren Kik-E.Z.J & Co., M/S. JK Constructions, M/S. Chabou & Co. to sign an Agreement with the Committee on or before January 20, 2025, failing which it was resolved to cancel the work order of those firms.
On January 19, 2025, the committee said it had a consultative meeting with the Phom People Council (PPC) and pleaded upon the M/S. A. Pongshi Phom & Sons to sign the Agreement with the Committee on or before January 23, 2025, failing which it was resolved to cancel the work order.
On January 23, 2025, the committee said it had a consultative meeting with the Konyak Union (KU) and furnished the Agreement to the KU to be signed by M/S. Yanna Enterprises, M/S. Shangpoh Konyak, M/S. Onkho Construction & Supplier.
NFHRCC also stated that on January 20, 2025, M/S JK Construction and M/S Chabou & Co collected the agreement from the committee but did not submit even till January 26, 2025.
Therefore, it said the committee members met proprietor of M/S JK Construction at his residence on January 26, 2025 evening and thoroughly explained to him as to why agreement should be signed between Contractor and NFHRCC.
After much deliberation, the proprietor said he would speak to his son who was going to execute the work, it stated. However, NFHRCC said since there was no response from him, the three Apex Tribal Hohos– Ao Senden, Lotha Hoho and Sumi Hoho– on February 4, 2025 invited the proprietor of JK Construction; M/S Chabou Co, and M/S Ren Kik-E.Z.J & Co. However, the committee said the proprietor despite “fervent requests and prayers” walked out from the meeting for the reasons best known to him.
Therefore, the committee said the three Apex Trial Hohos issued a five-day period to Lotha Hoho to do the needful with the concerned contractors who got work orders within their jurisdiction.
Further, the committee said it was resolved not to allow the defaulting Firms to execute the work without signing an agreement with the committee.
Consequent upon which, NFHRCC said the minister PWD (R&B) invited all the 12 Apex Trbial Hohos on February 7, 2025, and thoroughly deliberated on the Agreement. “However, no infirmity has been detected in the Agreement and opined that department, will soon sit with the Committee,” NFHRCC stated.