Imlisanen Jamir
It was coming. The near fatal incident on February 2 at the National Highway 29 was predictable given how things have gone in this particular stretch of the highway. If no major decision is taken soon to ensure safety and accountability, tragedies await.
A major rockslide last Tuesday between Chümoukedima Police Check Post till New Chümoukedima left four vehicles heavily damaged, and injured three persons, two of them seriously. Given the state of the vehicles, it was a miraculous escape from death for the commuters.
Since last year, rockslides have been a frequent occurrence. Use of explosives to clear the mountain side for the new 4-lane highway has loosened boulders and made the terrain unstable. Fortunately, no lives have been lost but commuters in this most busy stretch that connects Dimapur to the State capital have for over a year been forced to take a dangerous gamble.
While the road remains closed for light vehicle traffic until further orders, most commuters now travel by a deplorable alternative road.
Safety concerns were voiced as early as March last year when, the Tenyimi Youth Organization of Dimapur (TYOD) had warned that carrying out landmine explosion beside the old road of the National Highway would result in blockage of the NH and further endanger the life of the commuters. It further accused the construction company/contractors of putting the public’s life at high risk, “just to save time and energy.”
It has been a year since these concerns were voiced and besides the weekend halt on traffic along that stretch to enable clearance works, there is no public record of actions taken to fix responsibility.
Meanwhile, despite the latest incident, a majority of civil society here, which otherwise do not pass any opportunity to tout what they have to say, has been silent on this issue. It may be due to fears that any remonstration may further delay the 4-lane project. This has been seen even in the case of the major dust pollution being caused by the road expansion works, as was reported by The Morung Express last month.
Amidst this silence from the State and stakeholders, and with major developments projects, at least in paper, on the horizon, Nagaland needs to urgently reconsider what kind of development path it seeks to take.
Comments can be sent to imlisanenjamir@gmail.com
