The handing over of NH-155 from Border Road Organization (BRO) to Nagaland Public Work Development (NPWD) in the past couple of weeks has hurt the sentiments of the people living in Meluri Sub-Division and Kiphire District in particular.
Both the parties has written enough and expressed ones desire and stand on the said issue, and yet the issue just refuses to die down. Because of the fact that, roads are an inalienable part of any development, without which everything comes to stand still.
Taking into consideration mainly for employing educated unemployed youths, employing unemployed Engineers and economic opportunities, the state Govt. must have grabbed NH-155 from BRO. But, these should not be at the behest of the people. The citizens who are at the receiving end are fighting tooth and nail for NH-155 to be retain by BRO, then why the state Govt is so interested in NH-155? Is it because the people of those areas are easy to manipulate?
The state Govt. and NPWD may be trying hard to convince the people promising stars but no one can deny the fact about the present system of NPWD. Corruption, nepotism, favoritism etc has infested the department from top to bottom with due apology to those honest and dedicated officers in the Department. And, the workmanship of NPWD is graded as not satisfactory. Taking into account of all these technicalities the people are against State Govt on handing over NH-155 to NPWD.
If the State Govt. is for the people, they should have listened to the voices and shouldn’t hurt the sentiments and feelings of the people. All the mass based civil societies including the sitting MLA’s and Parl’ Secys are against handing on NH-155 to NPWD (Memorandum submitted to C.M on Dt 12-03-06.). In such a situation it is immature on the part of the state Govt to go ahead with the wishes of the people.
The handing over of NH-155 to NPWD will only increase the exchequer of some politician, bureaucrats, contractors and few fortunate individuals who can manipulate. The people of this area could foresee these before hand, and doesn’t want this to happen on their behalf which they have already experienced. Not only that, it will contain educated unemployed Engineers who will hardly stay in their respective places, because no Engineer are from those areas and also under the pretext of remoteness. Those officers will visit when they are about to draw their bills and salaries. Who dares to question them? Somehow they will have links with Ministers & MLA’s, after all, money will be the facilitator. The ultimately looser will be the poor publics and not the privileged few.
BRO must be having its due share of shortcomings. But, they are there with the people for decades rendering yeomen service, doing commendable job for the welfare of its citizens, ultimately makes their presence felt in the hearts of the people.
The handing over of NH-155 to NPWD may become a manifesto for some political parties in decades to come, because it’s for sure that NH-155 will not be motor able if NPWD starts executing their works. Most of the funds meant for the development of roads will be diverted to party fund and end up paying the taxes of some organizations. And no one will ever risk his/ her life to raise voice against them.
Some bureaucrats, politicians and contractors compare NH-155 with NH-61, but NH-155 is not NH-61. Toady after enough struggle NH-61 has attain the present state. May be, because those who ply NH-61 have qualified contractors, bureaucrats and influential politicians, who can really stand for the cause. Such wind of fortune will not blow over NH-155. Because of the fact, that those who ply NH-155 are underprivileged, less educated with no influential politicians and hardly any bureaucrats who can highlight the grievances of the people. The out come of handing over of NH-155 will only end up in manipulation and discrimination nothing less than that.
Most development in Nagaland is on paper and statistics. No one can deny this, no matter how sweet the promises are, the wishes of the people is to see that their demand are been fulfilled. Some individuals may label the people of those areas as fools for denying NPWD, but no matter what they know what they are asking for. If the Govt is for the people let the tug of war doesn’t prolong. Let the wishes of the people be fulfilled in the interest of its citizens.
L. Yangpthonger, Kiphire Town
