DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 4 (MExN): The Naga People’s Front (NPF) has accused the PDA government of stealing the achievements of the previous NPF government on the sector of improvement and development of road conditions in the state.
Press Bureau, NPF in a press communiqué on Thursday termed it astonishing the recent announcement made by the Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio to build good roads in the state in a year time when the government of the day could not even materialize the fund which was already approved and sanctioned during the then NPF government and many of which, work orders were issued.
It has questioned the Chief Minister, which road his PDA government is contemplating to take up, as all the ongoing works were accorded during the previous NPF government headed by TR Zeliang. It maintained that work is already in full swing but due to the off-season, the ongoing work was stopped.
Citing instances, the NPF pointed out that the Golaghat-Purana Bazaar (2 lane), Purana Bazaar-Chumukedima (4 lane) work order was issued last August 2017; New Check gate-Lerie (2 lane) work order was issued during September 2017.
Terming the ‘tall announcement’ made by the Chief Minister to the people as just another mockery, the NPF claimed that whatever he is claiming as his government’s achievement were the projects which was already accorded during the previous NPF government.
In the same vein, the NPF also questioned the PDA planning minister, Neiba Kronu on what ground he is referring that the state government will shell out funds from its own resources as funds from the Central government will take time for the construction of road projects.
It also wanted to know how much fund he will allocate from the state fund and how much the state government can disburse for the construction of the roads.
Instead of finding flimsy excuses to take the credit of what the previous government had done, the government of the day should pursue with a missionary zeal and complete the various road projects put up by the previous NPF government judiciously within the stipulated period, the NPF has advised.
It also reminded the PDA government of its promise during the last budget session 2018 to complete all the roads connecting district headquarters within 30, 60, 100 days. Already seven months had lapsed but nothing of that sort was visible and the Naga public is the best witness, it stated.
The NPF further demanded that the planning minister declare the amount “appropriated from state exchequer” for building the road in the state while pointing out that in the last budget session, Rs 60 crore was set aside for road improvement in all the district headquarters. It claimed that the PDA government could provide only Rs 25 crore to the department as per reply given by the PWD minister in the recently concluded summer session.
