Wka-Merapani road: Lotha bodies to move court

Lotha organisations have resolved to seek legal recourse against the firm involved in construction of Wokha- Merapani Highway upgradation to two-lane after observing that the Lucknow-based contractor M/S CS infraconstruction Limited was not following the technical specifications in the execution of the contract work. In a press release, Lotha Hoho chairman Er. Mhondamo Ovung and general secretary S Abenthung Ngullie said that non-compliance of specifications has been observed since the work activities started sometime in October 2017. 

The Lotha Hoho affirmed that there can be no compromise since Wokha- Merapani Highway was the most important road for the district.

According to the signatories, the Lotha organisations at a meeting at Wokha on February 11, 2019 resolved that unless the contractor complied with the specifications and the widening earthwork was started immediately, the Lotha organisations would seek legal recourse in the court of law.

LH pointed out that the Detailed project Report (DPR) of the road project clearly states that “Rehabilitation and Augmentation shall include widening and strengthening of the Project Highway”; and “the Carriageway shall be of Two lane (7 meters)/intermediate lane (5.5 meters) wide as per IRC SP: 73-2015 for plain terrain and IRC SP: 48 19198 for hilly terrain” vide Schedule H of DPR

They said the Lotha organizations led by Lotha Hoho have time and again held consultations with both the contractor and the NHIDCL requesting for adherence to DPR specifications, but to no avail.

They alleged that the contractor did not seem to pay any heed to the voice of the community led by the Lotha Hoho. The Lotha organizations also resolved to take own course of action and the contractor M/S CS infraconstruction Ltd and the NHIDCL would be solely responsible for any untoward consequences.