NFHRCC on goodwill visit to Wokha sector

The Nagaland Foothill Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) visited the Wokha sector on March 25, where work on the foothill road is ongoing. Termed as a trip to win the trust as well as boost the morale of the people of the area, the NFRHCC visited three villages - Mekirang, Liphi, and Old Roni, and inspected progress at specific locations.

The NFHRCC expressed satisfaction at the work executed by contractor, P. Imty Ao so far. 80 percent of the 35-kilometer stretch leased to P. Imty is complete. The contractor is expected to complete the areas assigned to him by April.

In the Mokokchung sector, some 3.7 kms of earth cutting has been completed while work order for the Yajang segment is awaited. It will be followed with Longleng, Mon and Dimapur sectors.

The plan is to first lay out a motorable road, atleast 20 feet wide, followed by expansion of an additional 20 feet and subsequently, black-topping.  

Out of the Rs. 40 crores sanctioned for the first phase of the foothill road, work on the Wokha sector will require an estimated Rs. 17 crores.  The Wokha sector runs a total of 62 kms, out of which 27 kms was sublet to Wokha District Class I Contractors Union. The NFHRCC’s objection notwithstanding, the Wokha contractors are continuing work on the 27 km stretch sublet to them, on the ground that P. Imty had entered into an agreement with them. The NFHRCC however reiterated that it will not accept the said agreement. It maintained to only stand by the agreement between the committee and P. Imty Ao.

Queried on the legal implications, it was explained that the contractor and the PWD (Roads and Bridges) already have an agreement with the NFHRCC, which was not honoured. The Chief Engineer of R & B had stated at the March 11 meeting that the Wokha contractors starting work without the department’s knowledge, the NFHRCC said. The Chief Minister, the Home Minister and the department has assured to do the needful in this regard, it was added.

“Competent contractors ought not to execute the work without work order,” the NFHRCC said. On the allegations and counter allegations, the NFHRCC commented, “In order to accomplish this extraordinary project, we have to put in extraordinary effort, shoulder extraordinary responsibility and accept extraordinary blame.”