Following the collapse of Balijan Bridge between New Showuba and Vihokhu on Wednesday, which served as a vital link between Niuland ADC headquarters and Dimapur town, the Niuland Area GB’s Association (NAGBA) has urged the department of PWD (Roads & Bridges) to immediately take up the matter on priority and commence the construction of the said bridge from state emergency fund.
In a press release, NAGBA president, Vikhey Zhimomi, cautioned that failure to initiate construction, the public would take own course of action for which the association should not be held responsible.
NAGBA pointed out that the entire Niuland sub-division and its surrounding areas and beyond have “plunged into complete isolation” after Balijan Bridge was washed away by flash flood on September 27, 2017.
The association also stated that after the collapse of the bridge over Chathe river 4th Mile, the villagers were using the alternate route (via Patkai College) to go to Dimapur. However, NAGBA said that now with the washing away of the Balijan Bridge, more than 100 villages under Niuland sub-division and its surrounding areas have been completely cut off leaving no alternative road for the public, the students and those needing medical attention.
The association opined that the collapse of the bridge indicated gross negligence on the part of the responsible department as the condition of the bridge had been in deteriorating and precarious condition since the past few years.
It stated that public would have not suffered to the extent of becoming isolated if the authorities had taken preventive and alternative measure before the bridge totally collapsed.
Besides other undue inconvenience faced by the public, NAGBA said the prices of essential commodities was likely to be at “unprecedented high.” It asserted that public would continue to face “miserable hardship” if no immediate measure was taken to restore the connectivity.
WSH appeals
Western Sumi Hoho (WSH) has appealed to the responsible department to urgently restore the collapsed bridges between New Showuba and Vihokhu, and Nihoto villages.
In a press release, WSH president, Zheshito Swu, and general secretary, Vikato K Achumi, pointed out that with the collapsed bridges, the lifeline of Niuland has been almost cut off. The hoho stated that the only alternative route was from Patkai-Seithiekema-Kuhuboto-Niuland, but it very tedious and makes the route longer by almost two hours.
WSH also stated that thousands of public of the area and hundreds of villages have been isolated from Dimapur town owing to the severed connectivity.
The hoho, therefore, in the interest of the public, has requested the state government to put in all its machineries and resources available to restore normalcy in the connectivity.