DEMAND ROAD WIDENING WORK BY APRIL 18
Lotha Hoho (LH) and Rengma Hoho (RH) on Sunday served an “open ultimatum” on the National Highways Authorities of Nagaland (NHAN) to immediately start the road widening work along NH-2 for the two sectors by April 18, failing which the hohos threatened to launch a total indefinite bandh within its sectors (NH-2) from April 19, 2017.
In a joint statement, LH chairman Mhao Humtsoe and RH president Kenyuseng Tep have made known to the NHAN that there would be “no more negotiations” since several appeals were made that fell into deaf ears. They said even after two years the assurances made by the minister in-charge, chief engineer (NH) including the commissioner & secretary were yet to be fulfilled.
LH and RH said the CE had also clarified on June 6, 2015 through the local media with assuring comments saying: “it has been observed regretfully that the Tseminyu and Wokha stretch of road is in deplorable condition because of litigation in the Supreme Court; but the court case is settled and the work on this stretch is proposed in the Annual Plan of 2014-15 and the updated Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been submitted to the MORTH for sanction”.
The minister had also given his assurance, the hohos said quoting the September 30, 2015 news headline published in section of the local dailies “Nuklotoshi assures work on Tseminyu & Wokha road sectors within two weeks”. At the meeting between LH and RH members along with commissioner & secretary and CE (NH) on October 3, 2015, the hohos said they were assured that the DPR could be ready for sanction within two months (by January 2016). Based on this assurance, the hohos said they patiently and hopefully waited, but to no avail. The hohos said a “reminder memorandum” was also submitted to the department on April 30, 2016.
However, two years have passed and the assurances were yet to be fulfilled, the hohos said.
They pointed out that government of India (MORTH) had approved the DPR and sanctioned Rs. 340.2687 crore on October 31, 2016.
The ministry had also specifically pointed out that the work had to start by December 2016, and to spend 20% of the sanctioned amount within 2016-17, so that the sanctioned amount did not lapse, the hohos said. The hohos said they were aware that the court case was already settled on August 8, 2014.
In this regard, LH and RH questioned whether the delay was because the work was to be allotted to a favourable bidder, with vested motive. “If NHAN refute this allegation, the hohos will bring in the testimony of the living bidder witness, which will be too embarrassing,” the hohos said.
LH and RH questioned NHAN as to what were they doing for the last four years?
They also wondered whether it reflected the same old tradition of unfair allotment or inefficiency or indifference or deliberate discrimination or abhorrence.
The hohos slammed NHAN of their adamant attitude, indifference and discrimination towards the two tribes for so long.
Expressing utter dismay, the hohos said they would be compelled to launch the total indefinite bandh within the two sectors– Tseminyu and Wokha and warned that NHAN would be held responsible for any eventuality.
They said the bandh would continue till the work order is produced before the two hohos and until the time the NHAN beings the widening work.
Reminding NHAN not to make any further excuses, LH and RH said the rights of the people cannot be suppressed by any amount of clarifications or assurances, except by timely and satisfactory works.
The hohos have informed that the bandh would exempted for press and media, paramilitary, medical personnel on patient duty, administration/police personnel on duty, fire service, water and power personnel on emergency duty.
Leave a Reply