Tseminyu, May 5 (MExN): The Rengma Selo Zi (RSZ), a youth organization, today highlighted neglect of the National Highway 2 (erstwhile NH-61) between Tseminyu and Wokha starting from 40 Km to 72 Km by the Government for the past 13 years.
No work for improvement or maintenance of the stretch of road had been executed, RSZ said; however, National Highway department of Nagaland had in the name of repair and maintenance put up a white washed wooden structure on the side of the road in Tseminyu area (see picture) in April recently.
“If the Department wanted to claim that the white wooden structure…is repairing and maintenance, the RSZ would like to know how much amount is sanctioned annually for such kind of activities,” stated a press release issued by RSZ President, Kenneth Kath.
The release further said that the Rengma community in particular has been voluntarily repairing the road twice a year for the past 4 years without any support from the Government or Department concerned.
It was also recounted that the widening to 2-lane of NH-61 from 40 Km to 72 Km under NH division, Kohima was sanctioned in 2010 and subsequently M/S Meenakshi Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd was awarded the work. But, M/S DRA-VASCON challenged the decision and filed a petition in the court which was later dismissed by the Supreme Court on 23-08-2013.
“Since then the road between Tseminyu and Wokha has turned to be a riverbed, which is motorable only for well built SUV vehicles,” the organization lamented. The pathetic road condition has also caused many tragic accidents leading to loss of lives and sick people could not reach medical centre on time due to the bad road, it added.
Despite many appeals by individuals and community through media and memorandum, RSZ said, the 32 Km stretch of road has never improved. Subsequently, the Central Ministry of Road Transport and Highways included the work plan in the year 2014-15, but it was not sanctioned even after the 2015-16 annual plan as the Department concerned failed to prepare proper DPR, it stated. In this light, RSZ has told the State Government that henceforth no representation or memorandum will be submitted as enough of appeals have been made for the same.
Stating that the condition of the road has worsened as monsoon approaches, the organization further asserted that it will not allow the Department to carry out any “drama or exhibition work between 40 Km to 72 Km as it is simply robbing the public money in the name of repairing.”
Meanwhile, RSZ cautioned that until and unless proper maintenance and improvement of the road is executed with proper machineries like road rollers, bulldozers, and excavators, it will be compelled to restrict the movement of all government vehicles and will resort to any sort of democratic agitation.
