Deputy chief minister, in-charge of National Highways, TR Zeliang and NPF legislator Achumbemo Kikon had a heated exchange on the concluding day of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly here on Thursday, after the latter alleged that the response to his question on NH-29 were not satisfactory.
In a starred question, Achumbemo enquired about the completion date of the construction of four-lane road from Dimapur to Kohima, to which Zeliang, who is in charge of PWD (NH), replied that the likely date for completion was December 31, 2024 as per contract agreement for Dimapur-Kohima Road, Package 1.
Zeliang also stated that the Dimapur-Kohima Road Package II was completed on June 10, 2023, while the scheduled competition date of Dimapur-Kohima Road Package III (Road Works) was two years from the declaration of appointed date, which was September 28, 2025.
He cited a series of reasons for the delay in completion such as the delay in providing encumbrance and hindrance free site, unseasonal and seasonal rainfall, strikes, bandhs leading to adverse law and order problems, delay in utility shifting, working constraints due to frequent landslides, local customs and religious sentiments, sliding in Pagala Pahar area, Covid-19 pandemic, stoppage of work by locals, EPC contractor’s default, improper planning, inadequate manpower, termination of two EPC contractors for slow progress of work and default of EPC contractor in Dimapur-Kohima Road (PKG-III).
Chief minister Neiphiu Rio supplemented to the reply by citing several important issues, including the incompetence of National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) and its lackadaisical efforts towards timely completion of the project.
Irked and not convinced by the response, Achumbemo got agitated for using the word “likely” for completion and demanded that there should be a timeline for completion.
Also, on the PKG-II, he questioned how the road could be termed as complete since there was no semblance of completion and asked who was responsible for issuing the certificate of completion.
He also demanded clarity on the appointment of two contractors engaged for slope safety measure and another for road construction, wondering how the portion in mud-slide area could be given to two contractors during the rainy season.
Zeliang responded that the word “likely” was used since, as per the agreement, physical work was complete 99.81%, while the financial progress was complete 98.86%. However, he said before issuing the completion certificate, the rock fall started and the mudslide occurred, for which the contractor was made responsible and an additional assignment was added.
He mentioned that unless the two additional works were completed, the completion certificate could not be issued and, due to uncertainty, the word “likely’ was used for completion. Else, he admitted that as per the revised agreement, the date of completion was November 30, 2022.
He informed the house that the completion certificate was issued by NHIDCL. However, since it was not satisfactory, a meeting was held at the chief minister’s level by inviting the executive director (ED) and other officials from NHIDCL.
Zeliang mentioned that directive had been issued that henceforth, before issuing completion certificate, there should be joint verification involving NH chief engineer, deputy commissioner (DC) of the respective district and local publication organisation.
He said a committee was constituted by the state government involving experts from IIT to study on the ground in consultation with the local people who understood the gravity of the area. It was also instructed to complete the study by the end of October, so that work could be started by November-December.
He mentioned that the NHIDCL ED was also asked to issue notice to the contractor, warning of terminating the contract if the directives were not complied with.
Dissatisfied by the response, Achumbemo demanded concrete assurance that the work would be completed by this year itself, arguing that nature could not be blamed every time. He alleged that there was no proper planning and complained about what kind of company was engaged.
Member Kuzholuzo Nienu intervened, arguing that he had raised the same question that was listed in unstarred question. However, he alleged that the answer was totally different regarding the date of completion, terming the response criminal in nature. He said the state government should file criminal case and urged the state cabinet to hand over the matter to CBI to investigate.