AFTER NFHRCC WALKS OUT, MEETING WITH CSC INCONCLUSIVE
Nagaland Foothill Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) has decided to go ahead with its 12-hour bandh on June 30, from 6 a.m. as the meeting between the committee and Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC) failed to arrive at a workable solution in Kohima on Saturday. Media, medical and fire services would be exempted for the purview of the bandh.
NFHRCC members walked out of meeting before it concluded. The meeting was held at Hotel Japfu, Kohima attended by hoho members representing the ten tribes.
NFHRCC while lauding the effort of CSC chairman and home minister Y. Patton for his intervention, The committee said it was not satisfied with the PWD (R&B) for altering its stands “every now and then.”
Briefing media persons at the residence of its treasurer Yashitsungba Ao, at Khermahal, Dimapur, NFHRCC convener Supu Jamir said the committee made it very clear to the CSC that it was not against the government or the department but was only appealing to honour the assignment given to them with regard to the construction of the jeep-able road.
NFHRCC claimed that there was no “quarrel” between the committee and the department and appealed the PWD (R&B) not to shy away from the statement given by PWD (R&B) minister Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu and the chief engineer PWD (R&B) on March 6 this year to the contractor to execute the construction work even without work order when they visited the construction site at Longtho sector.
Supu Jamir said that on the direction of the minister and the chief engineer, the contractor had already executed almost 10 kms of the work but the work order was allotted to another contractor.
NFHRCC reiterated that it was not confronting with the state government but has been compelled to agitate against the department. The committee further added that it was not concerned about to which political party the minister belonged to.
Meanwhile, NFHRCC has convened a meeting on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the residence of its treasurer. Another meeting has also been convened by the Ao Senso Telongjem Dimapur (ASTD) at 2 p.m. at its treasurer’s residence. Dimapur Watsu Telongjem (DWT), Ao Students’ Union Dimapur (ASUD) and Dimapur Ao Lanur Telongjem (DALT) have been asked to attend the meeting.
CSC, hohos appeal NFHRCC to call off bandh
DIMAPUR, JUN 28 (NPN): Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC) constituted by the state government to act as a facilitator between Nagaland Foothills Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) and the department of roads & bridges, along with various tribal hohos Saturday appealed the NFHRCC to call off its 12-hour bandh on Monday (June 30) from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The appeal was made after NFHRCC members walked out of a meeting with the CSC members represented by home minister Y. Patton; health minister P. Longon; agriculture minister Dr. Benjongliba; RD minister C.L John; power minister Kipili Sangtam; principal secretary home & commissioner secretary R&B Temjen Toy and EE R&B along with tribal hohos on Saturday at hotel Jafu. The meeting was called to resolve the issues pertaining to the foothill road.
According to a DIPR report, the home minister Y. Patton appealed all those present to work with unity and coordination so that the construction of foothill road was not hampered in any manner.
Voicing the same concern, agriculture minister Dr. Benjongliba said that the government, the department, tribal hohos and NFHRCC were all for the welfare of the people and that the road should not be abandoned due to small differences. He stressed on the need to resolve the issue through mutual understanding. Dr. Benjongliba requested NFHRCC to accept the guidelines of the department and also advised the department to consider working out a solution.
“There is always room for mutual understanding, let us think it wisely and carry forward with understanding”, said Dr. Benjongliba.
Health minister P. Longon lauded the initiative of NFHRCC. However he opined that the main target should be proper execution of work. On the bandh called by NFHRCC, he personally viewed that it was “not a wise decision” and pointed out that the bandh would only hamper the lives of the common people. He requested the committee to call off the bandh.
Principal secretary home also the commissioner & secretary R&B Temjen Toy said that the department decided to go for open tender for the remaining works on the foothill road and felt that notice inviting tender by the R&B department should not be objected as the government was following the prescribed guidelines and procedures in floating tenders.
Stating that bandh was not in “our culture”, Temjen Toy also urged NFHRCC not to resort to such action. He however asserted that the stand of the department would not change.
Representatives from various tribal hohos including Yimchunger, Kyong, Konyak and Phom also appealed the NFHRCC to call off the bandh.
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