The indefinite bandh on National Highway-2 passing through Wokha district called by civil society organisations (CSOs) and Joint Action Committee (JAC) commenced from 6 a.m. on Thursday. No untoward incident was reported on Day-1, while volunteers and JAC members, along with representatives from various CSOs, have been stationed at different checkpoints to regulate vehicular movement, ensuring that government-registered vehicles and those from other districts did not enter Wokha.
In a joint statement, chairmen of Lotha Hoho and Wokha Town Colonies’ Chairmen Union, presidents of Lotha Eloe Hoho, Lotha Students’ Union, Wokha District Village Council Chairmen Association and All Commercial Vehicle Association Wokha and JAC convener have warned that if there was no positive response from the authorities till 6 p.m. on Friday, the indefinite bandh would be intensified with indefinite lockdown of the DC Wokha office, indefinite lockdown of SDO (NH) office Wokha and total restriction of all vehicular movement and closure of all commercial establishments in the district.
However, exceptions will be made for paramilitary forces, medical services including ambulances and private vehicles carrying patients or dead bodies, fire and emergency services, power department with duty detailment slips from controlling authorities, postal services and press.
It also said that the indefinite bandh would continue with the same modalities till Friday.
In cases of medial emergencies within the district, citizens have been requested to get witness documents from the respective village or colony councils to be produced before the bandh volunteers to obtain car pass. In this regard, the CSOs have requested all to extend their support and to understand their genuine demand for realizing their right to have good roads.
The CSOs also declared that the bandh would continue until the demands of the public were met.
To discuss the matter, a meeting was convened by JAC and CSOs at Lotha Hoho Ki on Thursday to deliberate on the issue, which reaffirmed their determination to pursue their demands until a satisfactory resolution was achieved.
DC clarifies: In a rejoinder to the statement issued by TTC Infra India, DC Wokha Ajit Kumar Ranjan refuted the claim made by TTC Infra, wherein it was mentioned that ROW for 10% of the contract has still not been made available. To this, DC said that 98% of the ROW was available.
Furthermore, in the letter, DC said TTC Infra had indicated that no complaints were reported by the Contract Authority (Chief Engineer of PWD NH). However, DC contradicted this claim by highlighting concerns raised regarding the quality of work by TTC Infra in certain areas during various meetings. He also maintained that the company has acknowledged the need for rectification, rendering the statement false.
DC appeals to keep bandh in abeyance
Deputy Commissioner Wokha Ajit Kumar Ranjan has appealed to the civil society organizations (CSOs) under Wokha district to keep the indefinite bandh in abeyance.
In a letter to the chairman Lotha Hoho, DC said that his office had received a letter dated February 8 from the Chief Engineer, PWD(NH), wherein it was mentioned that a final notice of 10 days has been issued to the contractor for resumption of work, failing which necessary action would be initiated against the contractor. In light of necessary action being taken by the department, DC appealed to all concerned CSOs to keep the indefinite bandh in abeyance.
TTC Infra clarifies on 2-lane issue
Against the backdrop of the indefinite bandh called by Wokha-based civil society organizations, the construction firm M/S TTC Infra India issued a statement to place on record the facts and circumstance related to execution of the contract.
In a three-page statement TTC Infra said that the work was specifically for widening of the existing single/intermediate lane to two-lane road. It said that the as per the contract, the Right of Way (ROW) was to be made available within a period of 30 days from the date of execution of the agreement.
However, it said that till date the complete ROW has not been provided. The firm said that a contractor is not in any way involved in the process of securing the ROW. Another issue which has been raised was the non-demolishing of “buildings, structures for which compensation has already been paid”, it added. (See Advt on p-9)