Kohima, August 7 (MExN): The State Planning Board (SPB) Deputy Chairman, Neiba Kronu, has written a letter to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and the Minister for roads & bridges to take up the matter with the appropriate authority pertaining to maintenance and improvement of NH-150, which is the lifeline of the people of Phek, Pfütsero and Kiphire, and also asked them to take up the matter of the ‘collapsed’ bridge between Kikruma RD Block and Chakhabama.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister, which was also made available to the press, the Deputy Chairman informed that he had written a D.O letter to the Chief Engineer, BRO “vide no. DCSPB-1/PER/08 dated April 8, 2008, regarding maintenance/ improvement of NH-150 which is the life line of the people of Phek, Pfütsero and Kiphire”.
“It appears that no due attention has been given in this regard by the BRO, Chief Engineer /Engineer in-charge of the NH-150 for the reasons best known to them. The most of the stretches of the NH-150 are waterlogged with gaping, potholes and no sign for the construction of the side drain which makes the driving both treacherous and dangerous. Moreover, the raw material used by the BRO for the maintenance of the NH-150 is of sub-standard quality disregarding the safety of the commuters on the NH-150,” Kronu said in the letter.
He also stated that the bridge so constructed by the 15 BRTF on the RD Block Kikruma and Chakhabama had collapsed on May 2, 2007, “because of the poor workmanship of the BRO.” Further, “even after one year the BRO has not taken any initiative to reconstruct the collapsed bridge and which is causing lot of inconveniences to the public of the area as well as to travellers on the NH-150,” Kronu said adding that the public of the area “are very agitated because of the lackadaisical attitude of the BRO in regards to the maintenance of the NH-150.”
He also stated that the Phek district legislators, during the DPDB meeting held on July 30 last, had seriously discussed this issue and were contemplating filing a court case against the BRO through appropriate agency. In this regard, he said, it will be appropriate if R&B department takes up the matter with the Ministry of Road Transport and National Highway, government of India.
“Inspite of repeated reminders and personal approaches made by the R&B department still there is no positive response from the BRO in this aspect. I am of the view that BRO be once again summoned to the cabinet for discussion and necessary action and also suggest that BRTF be instructed to speed up the construction of the bridge and to maintain/improve the NH 150 properly and use the better quality of raw materials as they have been entrusted with this responsibility,” Kronu added. He also requested that the Chief Minister look into this and “the matter be taken up with the appropriate authority for redressal in the interest of the public of the area.”
