Parliamentary Secretary Nuklutoshi.
Mokokchung, May 18 (MExN): Parliamentary Secretary for National Highways & Mechanical, Nuklotoshi today appealed the Ao organizations to explore ways so that the landowners do not come in the way of developmental activities especially while constructing roads. He challenged the Ao communities to take up the issue seriously so that developmental activities like road constructions can be carried out smoothly without any problems from the landowners.
Speaking with representatives of the apex Ao organizations like the Ao Hoho, Watsu Mungdang, Ao Students’ Conference, All Ward Union Mokokchung, DBs, GBs, Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce & Industries, village council chairmen from some villages and concerned citizens at the Dobashi Customary Court building here today, the Parliamentary Secretary listened to the views on land rights and customary laws from the participants.
While all the speakers from the different organizations stressed on the need for construction of better roads in the town and the road connecting to other districts and states, the question of land rights, however, could not be discussed at length. However, almost every speaker asserted that the landowners should donate land for the construction of roads and should not claim any compensation since there can be no developmental activities without proper roads.
The Ao Senden president Dr Sangyu Yaden while asserting that the two lane foothill road leading from Mon to Nuiland (Dimapur) said that once it is completed then it will take only two and half hours to reach Dimapur from Mokokchung. Others shared more or less the same view – construct more and better roads.
However, the Parliamentary Secretary Nuklutoshi while summing up the interaction programme simply said that he is aware of the need of more roads and also better roads. He said the main purpose of the interaction was to hear about the views on landownership and customary rights on land, since landowners usually create hurdles while implementing developmental works.
He pointed out that the Dimapur-Kohima four-lane road project, sanctioned ten years ago, could not be implemented due to landownership problem. Saying that he is going to construct roads in the state come what may, the Parliamentary Secretary however said that the Government of India is reluctant to sanction money unless a ‘clearance’ is given that there will be no problems from the landowners while constructing the roads. He said that the Government of India knows our problem regarding landownership when implementing developmental works. In this regard, Nuklutoshi suggested whether the Ao Senden as the apex body of the Ao community and other apex civil societies can explore ways through which the landowners do not hamper the road constructing activity. He expressed happiness at the decision of the Langpangkong Range villages (under Mokokchung district) not to ask for compensation when it comes to road construction. He said that it would be good if other areas can also take similar decisions, so that the road construction activities can be carried out smoothly by the government.
Earlier in the day, the Parliamentary Secretary inspected the Department of Highways office and the PWD (Mechanical), Mokokchung Division and interacted with the officers and staffs. Chief Engineer (Highways) and Chief Engineer (Mechanical) and other top officials from Kohima accompanied him.
