Dimapur, October 7 (MExN): The State Planning Minister Neiba Kronu today appealed the “NPF friends and the public to co-operate with the government of the day so that we see good roads in near future.”
In a rejoinder to the allegations levelled against him and the Chief Minister Neiphu Rio by the opposition Naga People’s Front (NPF), the minister said that the present People’s Democratic Alliance is serious about improving road conditions in the state.
Since good roads were a necessity to the public, a meeting as “desired by the Chief Minister” along with Deputy CM, Planning, PWD and Urban department on September 29 decided to take up few city roads in Kohima and Dimapur at the earliest’’ owing to the start of the festive season soon.
The fund amounting to Rs. 119.50 crore was to be “shelled out from the state resources or even by raising revenues,” stated Kronu in his rejoinder. The tender, as well as the news regarding the same, were published in local dailies on October 1 and 2.
He also maintained that that right after its formation, the PDA government decided to “make roads as per the desire of the public.”
However, the parliamentary election to Lok Sabha, election code of conduct came into force and the incessant rains also proved to be a hindrance for the roads to be materialized, he added.
He, however, agreed with the NPF on the “sanctions from MoRTH Government of India, last year work orders for Golaghat-Chumukedima road has been issued to TK Engineering Consortium Pvt Ltd but progress is slow and is not coming up to expectation. Again KMC check gate-Lerie gate was issued to M/s Vilelie Khamo & Sons and it’s in good progress.”
But the Minister asserted that these two were not the only roads required for Kohima and Dimapur, thus knowing the necessity, the PDA government had decided to make other city and district roads which he had to explain to media friends during the interaction.
He further said that if we can make good roads and generate sufficient power other things will slowly catch up and as the Planning Minister he had to brief and update the “Chief Minister, Deputy CM and other Ministers and to discuss with the Finance Department to find out ways and means for speedy development which are time-bound projects even though our resources are limited.”
Kronu also maintained that political solution may come early or delay but day to day state of affairs should not be stopped, adding that out of all politicians, some still have the political will.
Without playing the blame game, he said, it’s high time to come out and voice together against the escalation of cost and non-performing contractors and engineers saying, “It’s time for us to show our resentment against BRO as they had miserably failed to perform.”
On the issue of traffic congestion, a reason for not reaching offices, educational institutes, hospitals or examination halls on time, the Minister pointed out that this was a serious matter for which the Planning GIS Cell and PWD was working to find out a formula to ease the traffic in Kohima and Dimapur, he assured.
