Dimapur, July 7 (MExN): Following another rockfall on the National Highway-29 ‘Pagla Pahar’ stretch on July 5, exactly a year after a similar incident, the Rising People’s Party today accused the ruling People Democratic Alliance (PDA) of eye-washing a ‘serious negligence.’
It further demanded that the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) be held accountable for what it termed as “criminal negligence.”
The RPP alleged that instead of addressing the issue seriously, the PDA government set up a High Level Technical Committee (HLTC) to ‘study’ the matter, but its report is still awaited in the public domain.
The party questioned when the PDA will realise that governance demands accountability and responsibility.
The RPP also queried Deputy CM TR Zeliang’s implication with the "short-term maintenance contract" introduced by the PDA after last year's tragic incident, stating that the Naga people will not be misled by such statements.
The RPP further questioned whether the NHIDCL was held responsible for the “haphazard manner” in which the four-laning, including the use of dynamites in unstable mountainous areas, was carried out after last year’s incident.
It asked if any individuals within NHIDCL or the government were suspended or jailed, and whether action was taken against the state nodal department - R&B (National Highway) – overseeing NHIDCL activities in the state.
The RPP also raised concerns about why the state police did not act on the RPP FIR complaint filed at the Chümoukedima Police Station against NHIDCL officials following the July 4, 2023 incident.
Accordingly, it claimed that the PDA government has consistently resorted to issuing “Travel Advisory” after each tragedy, without addressing the root causes.
Additionally, the RPP sought clarification on whether compensation was provided to the victims of the 2023 incident and if the recently injured individuals would be compensated.
These are some of the questions which the PDA government has to answer... Also, just for the sake of curiosity, the precious contents of the ‘ultra-secret HLTC report’ may be made public, it added.
