Viketo Nihokhe Sumi
Dimapur
The ongoing process of black-topping-Niuland-Dimapur Road is not only, singularly, beginning to bring everyday travellers a much awaited convenience solely. It has also started providing cleaner air, in sections where black-topping has already been covered. You'd be astounded by the clouds of dusts every vehicle leave behind its trail in Niuland-Dimapur Road. It's nothing short of Hollywood movie stunts performed by ferries of cars drifting in deserts on scorching days, emanating a perfect desert storm, like.
I believe that this initiation is ultimately being started as an outcome of repetitive imploration to the State Government by provincial GBs, various villages' Chairmen and many-a-unions. Their unwavering deeds depict that a collective voices streamed into a single coherent objective can develop into a productive outcome. We, Nagas, as people who, mostly, refuse to bend our beliefs to integrate with others even if it is empirical should pick a note from their collective actions, setting aside their political and social and internal differences.
The core reason for my article is focused on bringing awareness to the same individuals who, through their strife and knack of diplomacy, has successfully led the Government to expedite their long forgotten obligation.
Few days back, I happened to ply Niuland-Dimapur Road. It was sure a mind-blowing experience, cruising on the road that is well-known for its bumpy ride. Not to forget the duration it shortened by half, covering the usual distance.
But my glee was short-lived. You see, I witnessed on some portions of the finished sectors that parts of the bituminous material blended with crushed rocks were disintegrating. They were already developing into small potholes within a day or two. I know that such sights prompt every passer-by if such expensive work orders are worth being sanctioned when Government contractors try to evade every vital limitations settled.
I do not speak out of malice, but there is no guarantee that the Government Servants deployed to oversee the workings of Government contractors, ensuring graded materials used and detailed blueprints, might bear a fruitful return. It has become an unwritten fundamental for the public not to rely upon the government officials to safeguarding our welfare.
If you want to have something done right, then you should undertake it yourself. So, here I am, pleading to all the respective GBs, Chairmen, Students Bodies and Elders residing along Niuland-Dimapur Road to kindly supervise the ongoing works by ensuring that proper materials and workman ships are utilised.
I'd like to mention that in greater parts of Nagaland, local communities and public leaders have already developed the practice of supervising when contractors are assigned work orders to renovate, upgrade or maintain public roads that fall under their localities. These concerned citizens substantiate that the contractors are appropriating the standardised qualities of materials setted by the government.
Crushed rocks often lack to remain compressed and bonded together, as they are engineered to be because contractors regularly use old stocked chips that are covered in dust particles, entirely. In order to prolong the life duration of black-topping, fresh crushed stones, free from dust layers should be prioritised. If such deeds are to be actualized, there wouldn't arise the need to start over repairing the roads all over again after few months.
Therefore, I plea to all mentioned individuals to supervise and part take while the contractors are in the process of upgrading Niuland-Dimapur Road. Please make sure that the materials they are using are copacetic. It should be an obligation to ensure that the contractors are also morally responsible when they are entrusted with public necessities.
I humbly hope that the concerned individuals take heed to my plea, as the number of people dwelling along Niuland-Dimapur Road has shown rapid increase in respiratory health issues because of the excessive amount of dusts they inhale every day. It is not only an issue of convenience but health too.
