Reiterates resolution for issuing work orders for phase 2
Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 18
The meeting convened by the Nagaland Foothills Road Co-ordination Committee (NFHRCC) in Dimapur, on May 19, went ahead with 6 tribal bodies abstaining. The consultative meeting was called by the NFHRCC to discuss matters relating to the controversy-marred Nagaland Foothills Road project, also known as, the Trans-Nagaland Highway in government lore.
According to a press statement issued by the NFHRCC Media Cell, the Ao Senden, Konyak Union, Lotha Hoho, and Phom People’s Council wrote to the committee expressing regret for foregoing the meeting citing unwillingness to “support any organisations holding any form of protest against the State Government at this juncture.” The statement added that the Dimapur Lotha Hoho abstained despite receiving the go-ahead from its parent body.
The Western Sumi Hoho (WSH) and Chakhroma Public Organisation (CPO) communicated their inability to attend the meeting, through the media, based on directives from their respective parent bodies. The latter two in their media statement said that they held “no ill feelings about the efforts of the NFHRCC.”
The May 19 meeting was convened as a follow-up to resolutions adopted on April 14 at Hotel Saramati in Dimapur. In the statement, the NFHRCC said that the agenda focused on advancing the Foothills Road Project, which the committee described as “the ultimate desire of the people of Nagaland at the moment.”
It said that that the meeting was based on a prior request from the 15 Nagaland tribal hohos for the “Core committee, including the NFHRCC and the Dimapur based tribal hohos,” for putting “on hold the proposed democratic form of agitation” concerning the work orders for the second phase of the project. The tribal bodies had assured that “constructive dialogues shall be initiated between the Government and the Committee.”
A three-point resolution was adopted at the May 19 meeting, first of which was for convening an “immediate joint meeting” involving the 15 Apex tribal hohos, Dimapur-based tribal hohos, and the NFHRCC at the initiative of the Dimapur-based bodies. Secondly, the committee resolved to undertake a “joint Inspection” of all ongoing road constructions at the earliest opportunity. Thirdly, the house reaffirmed its resolution to persuade the PWD (Roads & Bridges) to expedite and finalise issuance of work orders “through an Open Tender” for the second phase of the project. The NFHRCC has maintained that “Administrative Approval” worth Rs 430 crore was issued for the second phase by the state government as early as 2024.
