Nagaland Foothill Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) has served a 30-day deadline on the state government to positively respond to their plea of making the foot hill road “pliable while waiting for the proposed mega project.”
NFHRCC convenor Supu Jamir, general secretary W. Lemba Chang and assistant general secretary Chenithung Humtsoe, in a joint statement also cautioned that the Committee will be “compelled to resort to any appropriate means” in case of failure by the government to meet its demands within stipulated period. This was among several resolutions adopted by the NFHRCC at its meeting held on August 7 at its office in Dimapur.
While appreciating the recent statement by the Rising People Party (RPP) with respect to the foothills Road, the NFHRCC however said till date there has been no official communication or discussion over the matter. (It may be recalled, that RPP on Thursday announced its decision to initiate crowd funding to help complete the Foothill Road connecting Khelma in Peren district with Tizit in Mon district.)
NFHRCC recalled that its members, after understanding the pulse of the public and also considering the numerous representations made by various organizations, held discussions since 2013 on the progress of the project which had been left incomplete for over eight years. In order to present a clear picture of the project, NFHRCC informed aspects of its history.
NFHRCC said the road project was initially started with funding under the Special Plan Assistance (SPA). The first phase was launched on December 21, 2013 at Longtho, Mokokchung district then by Merapani sector in Wokha district on December 27. Later on, the Doyang bridge construction at Governor’s camp, Liphanyan began in 2014. Except some portions, NFHRCC said that almost 90% of the earth cutting/dressing was completed in 2013-14. However, after formation of the NITI Aayog, it said the SPA was discontinued and the ongoing project had slowed down.
In the face of difficulties, NFHRCC said that the Doyang bridge work resumed in 2018 after almost two years gap. The progress was commendable and expected to be completed by the end of 2021. With regard to the “mega project of the Trans Nagaland Expressway”, NFHRCC, citing government source, said that the file was in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) “for final declaration”.
NFHRCC said that the committee had also written to the PMO on October 22, 20219 through the office of Governor, Nagaland.
While awaiting for the mega project, NFHRCC urged the state government to make the road jeepable.
It said that the on February 5, 2021 the committee members and the elected members from 11 tribes along with the tribal hohos deliberated on the project during the meeting at Hotel Japfu, Kohima.
On the same day, the signatories said that the committee wrote to the NLA Speaker to list the matter before the Assembly under ‘urgent public importance’.
Subsequently, on February 10, 2021 a joint team of all tribal hohos, official from the concern department along with the contractors visited the Doyang Bridge construction site.
On February 24, 2021 during the ENPO silver jubilee celebration held at Tobu, the chief minister also assured to take up the ongoing foothill road project and make it pliable.
NFHRCC said on March 16, 2021, NDPP High Power Committee (HPC) led by its working president Alemtemshi Jamir along with the department officials visited the ongoing Doyang Bridge construction site. After that the HPC formally submitted the progress report to the competent authority and assured their full cooperation to accomplish the project.
In the light of the above, NFHRCC therefore served its 30-day ultimatum on the government to make the road pliable.