Kohima, July 17 (MExN): The Naga People’s Front (NPF) has expressed its “resentment” against the existing two-lane Dimapur-Kohima highway, which it said has turned from bad to worse due to the ongoing four-lane construction works in recent times causing immense hardship to the commuters from Manipur and Nagaland alike.
“Despite disclosing the pathetic condition of the highway by the local media, no concrete measures seem to have been initiated by the two construction firms M/s ECI Engineering & Construction Co Ltd and M/s Gayatri Projects Ltd to ease the woes of the general public,” lamented a press statement issued by NPF Press Bureau today. “To top it all, PDA Government remains to be a mute spectator with not the slightest attention on the matter since the last 4 months of coming to power.”
NPF further noted that based on relevant Clause of the Contract Agreement between National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) and the two construction firms, the former in its response to information sought by the Leader of Opposition Vide No. LO/CORR/NHIDCL-2018 dated July 15, 2018 had clarified that “if at any point of time, Government of Nagaland does feel that Contractors are not doing sufficient maintenance, contractors may be summoned and instructed adequately by the Government of Nagaland for necessary action.”
“As per relevant Clause of the Contract Agreement, it is also understood that the two firms during the construction period are contractually bound to maintain at its own cost, the existing lane(s) of the Highway,” it added.
Therefore, the NPF asked whether the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) government is of the opinion that the contractors are taking up maintenance work satisfactorily as per Contract Agreement. “If no, why is the Government on mute mode till date? If yes, it is for the people of Nagaland to judge the responsiveness of PDA Government towards public grievances,” the statement read.
Response of NHIDCL, according to the NPF, “clearly indicates the negligence of PDA Government which is least bothered about completion of the project or the hardship faced by the people.”
“PDA Government must realise that it is in the best interest of the State of Nagaland, for the Government to abandon its infamous practice of shifting blames onto others and rather start focusing on welfare issues like the 4-laning of Dimapur-Kohima highway, which is the lifeline of the two states,” it asserted.
