Lotha Middle Range Students’ Union (LMRSU) has announced an indefinite bandh within the Lotha middle range jurisdiction from March 18 if its demands over the long-pending issue of upgrading Sanis 0’ Point to Lakhuti Road under PMGSY 2 did not materialise, threatening to intensify the agitation further.
The decision was taken at a joint coordination meeting held at Sanis village with SYSL on Tuesday and subsequently a presidential-cum-consultative meeting was held, which was chaired by its president and where the general secretary was the recorder.
LMRSU president Wonchibemo B Ovung and general secretary Chonbenthung B Mozhui reaffirmed its demands that the prime contractor (M/S North-East Enterprises) should address the public of the deprived villages in person and give a written assurance to complete the work within the stipulated period, and that state government representatives should address and assure the public in writing to complete the project within the given timeframe.
LMRSU said that, in the interest of the range and public, it took over the responsibility of keeping a check on the upgradation of the 18-km road from Sanis to Lakhuti– package no. NG-07-03-A008– at a total cost of Rs 1542.88 lakh.
As per the work agreement, they said M/s North-East Enterprises was asked to complete the work by March 2022, while an extension of six months too was given, but the project was still incomplete.
They said a memorandum was submitted to Works & Housing commissioner & secretary on January 25, 2024 after the LMRSU carried out a proper inspection of the road. They mentioned that the union along with the stakeholders of the area had an official deliberation and decided to demand completion of the work on or before February 15, adding that a legal action would be taken in the failure of the work remaining incomplete.
Following this, LMRSU executives along with the deprived villages attended a meeting called by the commissioner & secretary on February 1 in the presence of additional chief engineer R&B and the contractor over the issue. It was decided that the prime contractor would complete the work in accordance with the contract specifications and contract agreement by March 10, 2024.
Keeping in mind the agreement/undertaking, they said LMRSU office-bears again inspected the 18-km stretch on March 8 during which it was noticed that the company was initiating to stock the transported materials and machineries at Yonchochu village. An information from the site supervisor mentioned that the work might begin by the following week with an attempt to complete the task before March 31, 2024.
LMRSU expressed its displeasure to the department for releasing the bills in advance before completion of the work, compelling it to submit an ultimatum that any democratic form of agitation would begin if there was a lack of satisfactory progress by March 15.