Amid concerns over transparency, quality control, and timely execution of the historic Foothills Road initiative, the Nagaland Foothill Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) has called for an emergency meeting with the apex and Dimapur-based tribal hoHos on February 20, 2025, at 5 p.m at its base office in Kher Mahal, Dimapur.
In a press release, NFHRCC convener Supu Jamir, co-convener Hokiye Yepthomi, general secretary W Lemba Chang and assistant general secretary Chenithung Humtsoe said that the meeting has been convened to “safeguard the Naga public from the clutches of benefactors,” and therefore requested the hoho leaders to attend the meeting positively.
The committee said that it was high time for the Nagas to decide whether they would be crushed under the hands of a few benefactors, or they would develop their land with justice and transparency.
In the backdrop of the 2013 resolutions on transparency, quality control and timely execution of the historic Foothills Road initiative and the ongoing two-lane foothills road construction, NFHRCC said that PWD (R&B) minister had invited all 12 tribal hohos for a consultative meeting at Kohima on February 7 this year, wherein it was resolved that within a few days the department would convene a joint meeting with NFHRCC and contractors to hammer out an amicable solution.
However, they lamented that despite requests by the committee, the proposed meeting had not been convened yet for reasons best known to them.
On the other hand, they said the committee had been invited by M/s JK Construction and M/s Chabou & Co to attend the launch programme in Baghty division on February 21 without signing an agreement with the committee despite fervent request by the apex tribal hohos and committee.
Hence, they termed such invitation of the committee to the launch programme as the highest form of insult, undermining the “honour, majesty and dignity” of the apex tribal hohos and the NFHRCC. NFHRCC mentioned that the firms have clearly exhibited their intention to crush and suppress the voice of the hohos and Naga public.
LH reaffirms Jan 16 resolution: As endorsed during the joint meeting of Ao Senden, Sumi Hoho, Lotha Hoho, and NFHRCC on February 4, 2025, at Wokha, the Lotha Hoho convened a meeting on February 12, 2025, to deliberate on the deadlock and the issue of unsigned contractors.
Lotha Hoho chairman Er. Mhondamo Ovung and joint secretary & LH member of NFHRCC Limhathung Odyuo said that LH being the signatory, reaffirmed its stand with the resolution passed on January 16, in Mokokchung.
As resolved during the meeting, LH said that on February 13, the hoho delegates met Achumbemo Kikon, MLA at his Kohima residence, and urged him to intervene. However, after a lengthy discussion, no solution was reached.
In a follow-up meeting on February 14, the Lotha Hoho reaffirmed that unsigned firms/contractors must comply with NFHRCC’s terms and conditions or be barred from executing contract work till the matter was resolved. It also said that any consequences arising from unauthorized work execution will be the responsibility of the concerned contractors, and NFHRCC may take necessary actions and LH would be compelled to enforced the January 16, 2025, resolution.