CTC, DMC, BRO JOIN HANDS TO RESTORE LINK
Due to vigorous efforts put in by the Chumukedima Town Council, Dimapur Municipal Council under supervision of DC Dimapur N.Hushili Sema and EACs, the NH 29 cut off by several landslides was finally cleared and movement of traffic restored by late Sunday evening.
Six earth movers (JCBs) were pressed into service by CTC and DMC working round the clock throughout Sunday evening from the crack of dawn.
A house rented by excise department was also demolished after the DC Dimapur N.Hushili Sema negotiated with the house owner for clearing mud debris from the road. It may be mentioned that after the Friday night’s down pour the NH 29 between Dimapur and Kohima was completely cut off resulting in hundreds of vehicles stranded on both sides of the road. Many travelers braved knee deep mud to wade through to the other side, while some took the torturous route across the rive chathe. The road was filled with mud,boulders and broker trees etc.
Commissioner & Secretary, PWD (R&B) Temjen Toy who had also arrived from Kohima to oversee the reopening of the road, disclosed that multiple landslides occurred in two to three places. Till late Sunday, only one lane was cleared from Kohima side and vehicles coming from Kohima side were permitted to move while those going to Kohima had to take a detour via Jalukie-Punglwa road.
Even by Sunday afternoon, it was thought that the road could not be opened for traffic till Monday but the extra efforts put in by those involved in road clearance managed to restore the link by late Sunday evening.
According to Temjen, others who were over looking the road clearing at towards Kohima were Chief Engineer, PWD NH, 15 BRT commander, Tejpal, Deputy Director IPR, Dominic and AIG (Headquarter) Sendongmeren.
Commuters coming from Kohima told this Reporter that it took them nearly four hours to reach Chumumedima check post. Besides DC Dimapur N.Hushili Sema others who were also present during the road clearance included Alongdimen EAC, Chumukedima and Dobashis, Chief Advisor CTC along with CTC advisors, S.P. Dimapur Z.Mero, Police personnel and Seithekima volunteers.
CMO grateful: The chief minister of Nagaland and the state government lauded the collective efforts and coordination between various agencies for clearing the landslide at National Highway 29 between Chumukedima and Kukidolong Sunday evening. According to a press statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office, through the press secretary, the CMO noted that movement of vehicles was restored at 5pm Sunday. The release pointed out that the clearance could not have been achieved within Sunday had it not been for the combined efforts of the BRO, state PWD, district administration and police, Chumukedima Town Council, Dimapur Municipal Council and the public of the area.
The road stretch from Chumukedima to Jharnapani which is part of the NH 29 is looked after by the BRO. The particular stretch is perennially under threat from landslides from the hillocks above the serpentine road.
According to an official source,the road stretch running along the hilly portion cannot be expanded and neither was it possible to prevent occurrence of landslides especially during heavy rains.
Unlike the soil condition at other portions including those near Kohima which are loose, rocky clay, the soil along the hillocks were precariously perched atop boulders. Rains seep through the layers and loosen the earth resulting in multiple mudslides.
The official opined that the BRO needed to redouble efforts to ensure that the road is kept open especially during monsoon.
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