NHIDCL Executive Director (ED) has committed to clearing the landslide-affected area on NH-29 near Dzüdza Bridge (Melarü under Dzüdza village) in Sechü-Zubza, Kohima, by 11 a.m. on Thursday.
Interacting with this Correspondent at the landslide area, Western Angami Public Organisation (WAPO) Information & Publicity secretary Neitho-o Nakhro mentioned that the ED made this commitment to minister for Women Resource and Horticulture, Salhoutuonuo Kruse, when she visited the area to assess the situation.
Nakhro said WAPO was “utterly dismayed” over the lackadaisical way NHIDCL was handling the whole situation. Nakhro questioned whether the NHIDCL fully understands the plight of the people and the daily ordeals caused by the highway blockage due to the landslide. He mentioned that WAPO had previously discussed the looming threat of the landslide with all relevant stakeholders, including NHIDCL, State Disaster Management Authority, and the state government.
Despite these discussions, the lack of preemptive action from any of the stakeholders led to the current crisis, he stated.He also expressed shock at the ED’s conduct, accusing him of misleading the minister during her visit by claiming that restoration works were delayed because NHIDCL could not locate a dumping site for the mud slurry removed from the highway.
He pointed out that it was the prerogative of the company to locate and make necessary arrangements in such cases. However, due to the urgent nature of the situation, he said the Jotsoma Village Council convened a meeting with all the farmers and landowners along Melarü river and requested them to allow the mud slurry to be dumped into the river.
During the meeting, he informed that the council urged landowners who draw water from the river to irrigate their fields to temporarily block their water channels in order to prevent dirt from the dump site from contaminating their fields, which could cause further issues.
Nakhro also disclosed that when WAPO inquired about the complete halt in restoration works on Tuesday, the contractors, Brand Eagle, informed them that NHIDCL had not paid for their fuel, which led to the work stoppage. Restoration efforts only resumed on Wednesday morning.
He speculated that the landslide could potentially affect land up to 1 kilometer above the impacted area and if not managed effectively, it could devastate a vast area along Khuzo, Melarü, Dzüdzakhie, and adjoining regions.
Meanwhile, former MLA Keneizhakho Nakhro, who was also present at the site, suggested that the government should maintain alternative routes in the coming days, as landslide situations frequently disrupt the area and impact the entire population.
He expressed shock that the four-lane project, now almost 10 years in the making, was nowhere near completion. Nakhro remarked that even local contractors might have done a better job than these so-called big companies from mainland India, considering the current state of road construction. Additionally, there are reports of price hikes in Manipur due to the landslide situation.
NPP unit urges state govt to improve Pfutsero-Zhavame road condition
DIMAPUR, AUG 21 (NPN): National People’s Party (NPP) 17 Chizami assembly constituency has expressed concern over the “pathetic and awful” condition of Pfutsero-Zhavame road and urged the state government to act immediately to improve the road condition.
In a press release, NPP 17 Chizami A/C media cell said that Pfutsero-Chillo road was not only inter-state connectivity, but also the lifeline of four villages and town– Tsüpfüme, Razeba, Zelome and Zhavame. However, it said that the road condition has “never been in good shape”, adding the road remained neglected without any sign of either new construction or repair for many years.
Further, NPP unit asserted that during 2021 the community was compelled to maintain the road since the government turned a blind eye to the hardships faced by the people.
It said that a group of youth from Razeba area under Phek district initiated a crowd funding and repaired the 10km stretch of Pfutsero-Zhavame road, which serves as the only lifeline for a population of more than 8000 people in the area.
Stating that it was time for the government to do justice to the people of Razeba area, NPP urged the government to respond positively “before the public could no longer bear the step motherly treatment to the area”. It said area people were no longer willing to endure the hardship caused by the state of the road.
Highlighting the “horrible” condition of road, the NPP unit said the roads had greatly affected the economy and life of the people. Despite the huge agricultural potential that Razeba area has, NPP unit said the condition of the road was deplorable that the farmers could not transport the products to the market. NPP unit reminded that the government had declared Zhavame as ‘Vegetable Village’ and Tsupfume village as ‘Ground Apple village’.
However, it said that since their products could not reach the market due to bad road, the government should be held responsible for the losses caused to the farmers. NPP unit has, therefore, urged the state government to provide an all-weather road to the people of Razeba area at the earliest.