DIMAPUR, JULY 7 (MExN): The Naga Tribal Union Chümoukedima (NTUC) has stated that the NHIDCL “must own responsibility” for the accident that killed two people on NH 29 on July 4.
A press release from the union said that it had already served a legal notice to the government and the NHIDCL on March 28, 2023, as well as met the concerned authorities in person for the welfare of the people and safety of the high way. It however stated that the authorities concerned have turned a deaf ear to the appeal of the people.
It said that in the legal notice, the union had mentioned that the reserved but uncut area towards left side of the hilly terrain from Patkai College junction to New Chümoukedima Village which is under ROW is causing hindrance not only to the landowners for development but also risk to damage the highway, and poses great risks to human lives.
“The recent incident could have been prevented had NHIDCL and their subleted contractors fully cut the hilly portion as per the specification whereby sufficient space would be available for rockslides and debris to fall there and not on the road directly,” the union said. It informed that the reserved area under ROW of 20 feet is still remaining to be cut down.
“Another dangerous and harrowing mistake committed by the NHIDCL was the exercise of unwarranted and unauthorized use of blasting of rocks which shook the entire vicinity that resulted in cracks and loose soil in several areas,” the union stated. It informed that the NHAI had proposed to reserve some space on both sides of the highways as ROW areas, whereas hardly such space was left towards the hilly portion.
It said that the Government of Nagaland and NHAI must take up immediate action to clear the ROW and no other individual/company should be allowed to occupy the ROW area without the knowledge and approval of the concerned authority.
Further, the union said that since their legal notice received no positive response, they are left with no other option but file a PIL. As for the recent incident, it said that citizens of Nagaland “must rise to the occasion to bring NHAI and NHIDCL to task as they are directly responsible.” Meanwhile, it also urged the public not to allow the toll gate to function till all genuine matters of the public are addressed by the NHIDCL.
