The Naga Tribal Union, Chümoukedima Town (NTUCT) has filed a public interest litigation (PIL) against the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) at the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench on Monday.
NTUCT president Lhousito Khro in a press release lamented that despite repeated appeals and pleas of several civil society organisations (CSOs) in a democratic manner to the state government and NHIDCL for adopting safety measures for daily travellers on NH-29, particularly at the portion between Chathe river bridge junction (Patkai bridge Junction) up to New Chümoukedima, the NHIDCL had been simply justifying its callous misdeeds by on flimsy reasons and excuses.
He claimed that the union had taken the lead in pointing out several loopholes committed by the NHIDCL since day one, though the latter remained adamant without paying any heed to the former’s appeals. He said this had left the union with no other option except to seek legal help in order to take the company to task.
Hence, a legal notice was served to the state government and NHIDCL on March 23, 2023 urging them to take cognizance of the matter seriously. But, Khro alleged that the recipients had deliberately ignored to respond, as a consequence of which two precious lives were lost, some were seriously injured and cars were badly damaged in rock slides on the fateful day of July 4, 2023, besides severely inconveniencing the commuters as they could not pass through the area.
Having not seen any sign of tangible steps being by the NHIDCL, he said the NTUCT was left with no other option except to file the PIL, which was successfully registered. He hoped that the high court would take the matter to its logical conclusion and that justice would be delivered sooner than later.
He appealed to the general public to render their full support and cooperation.