NVCO joins campaign against bad roads
Dimapur, May 12 (MExN): The Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) has extended support and appreciation to every concern citizen in raising their voices against bad roads.
“The Government as a welfare state is responsible for all the bad roads and citizens have the right to demand good roads,” a press release from the Media Cell NVCO stated. Insisting that citizens deserve good roads, the NVCO contended, “Bad roads even amounts to human rights violation.”
The NVCO has been touring all districts over the past few years conducting awareness programmes on various topic concerning citizens’ rights.
In the Year 2015 the NVCO team had interacted with civil society, tribal hohos, churches, students, youth, women, district administration during their visit to various district.
“Deplorable road condition was one of the major public grievances complaint by the citizens,” the NVCO stated.
Citing instances of serious patients being compelled to be airlifted to Kohima and Dimapur hospitals by helicopters due to the deplorable road condition, the NVCO maintained that the cost of airlifting in order to save one’s life was borne by selling off valuable properties.
Disclosing that some had even died in road transit, especially in delivery cases, the NVCO insisted, “All these are happening solely due to bad roads.”
Pointing out that several roads connects Zunheboto, the Consumers’ Organisation lamented, “Not a single road is motor able for serious patients especially during the rainy seasons.” It also cited Jalukie, Tuensang and Tseminyu as having “bad”, “difficult to ply” and “deplorable” roads.
The release disclosed that the NVCO team was compelled to re-schedule their tour program of the district including Longleng, Kiphire and Mon due to the deplorable road condition.
Noting that “corruption is the root cause of bad roads”, the Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation maintained that the practice of deduction of certain percentages by way of “commission” is very common in the road developmental sector.
Citing “minister commission, party fund to be deposited to the Chief Minister’s Office, departmental charges, work tax, contingency, quality control, several underground taxes, work tax, illegal collection of cash at Nagaland Police check-gates, etc.,” the NVCO observed that in total, it comes to not less than 40% to 45% even before the contractor has taken a cut.
“Corruption includes violation of tender norms of both NPWD & CPWD and also in total violation of all ethics of technicalities,” it added.
