Newly constructed structures along the NH-702A Chozuba to Phek stretch.
‘Nothing but human greed for money and wealth,’ many contend
Vishü Rita Krocha
Phek | January 26
What was once an isolated road, the proposed two-lane road on National Highway (NH) 702A from Chozuba to Phek is now filled with temporary new structures, mostly constructed last year, clearly with the intention of getting higher compensation for the land area marked for the two-lane road with a paved shoulder.
While several new “houses” have sprung up in the proposed path, there is no sign of any household living in the new structures.
Interestingly, these “houses” have no entrance way, clearly indicating that nobody lives in them. The wooden structures, topped with a tin roof, have walls (facing the road) that are too short even for children, while there are no walls on the other side.
“It was during last monsoon that the people were busiest with the construction of these temporary structures,” a citizen of Phek, who did not wish to be named, recalled.
He also mentioned that during this period, citizens who were genuinely constructing their own houses in Phek town could not get their share of wood, even as the three sawmills in Phek struggled to meet the demand, which exponentially grew during that time.
“Some of them are building these structures on their own land, while others are being allowed to construct in the area by the landowners, agreeing to share the money after getting compensation,” he further pointed out.
“It shows nothing but human greed for money and wealth,” he asserted, conveying sadness over the degradation of the values of truth, honesty, and dignity of labour that were once upheld by our forefathers.
It was also learned that some of them have constructed the structures by procuring bank loans, which they are already struggling to repay.
Commenting on this, another citizen added: “It is the sheer stupidity and greed of our people that have led them to such a situation.”
The stretch of the proposed highway touches the jurisdiction of villages such as Losami, Kutsapo, Phek, Surhoba, and Thüvopisu.
However, the Thüvopisü Village Council (TVC) had earlier strictly warned that “no illegal construction will be made under its jurisdiction, failing which the Youth Force would dismantle the illegal constructions.”
As per a source, this resolution has reportedly been adhered to by the people of Thüvopisü Village.
While assessing the progress of key NH projects across five districts in Nagaland, Deputy Chief Minister TR Zeliang, who visited the area last November, also expressed his disheartenment upon witnessing all these structures constructed along the stretch in anticipation of compensation.
In a post on the microblogging site X (formerly Twitter) on November 12, 2024, he wrote, “This practice should be discouraged, and the District Administration must immediately take action lest it hampers the sanctioning of the project.”
In response to the post, an ‘X’ user commented, “If an impartial investigation is conducted, there are cases where it is officials in the district administration itself who encourage and instruct villagers to indulge in this act.”
“Most of the time the public blames the politician, but this is how they (the public) also loot shamelessly!” another user added.
