Peren, August 2 (MExN): The Civil Society Organisations (CSO) of Peren Town and Peren Village Council (PVC) today clarified the blockade of a stretch of NH-129 A since July 31 is solely directed at the “lackadaisical attitude of National Highways & Infrastructure Development Cooperation Ltd (NHIDCL) towards the legitimate rights of the stakeholders.”
It is not the intention of the Peren CSOs and PVC to inconvenient the commuters of Inter-State Highway, stated a press release from Joint Action Committee (JAC) NH-129A (Peren Town Portion).
The JAC maintained that it was been compelled to take the steps solely against the NHIDCL to express its resentment and should not be construed otherwise.
The Committee further argued that it was baffling that while major portion of works on NH-129A Package-1 is completed, the NHIDCL is “reluctant to construct the NH as per original DPR and contract agreement” for the Peren Town portion measuring approximately 2.8 kilometre.
To this end, the JAC assured “unflinching support to State Government, NHIDCL or Contractor for development of the town” but appealed that the works are “executed as per direction given by the Union Minister MoRTH for built-up area of 2.5kms (Peren Town portion) and 300 mtrs (Peren Kipeuzang).”
“We will not accept anything less of this and will firmly stand our ground for justice and intensify our agitation if the situation so warrant,” it reiterated.
Supporting its stance, the JAC pointed out that the initial survey for construction of NH-129 was undertaken in 2018 during which the landowner village submitted a proposal to NHIDCL to construct the road bypassing the main town.
However, it was turned down reasoning that the road should be constructed within the scope of existing alignment.
“We welcomed the decision and issued NOC (No Objection Certificate) for the whole stretch of Road without even claiming land compensation,” it maintained.
The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the project, the Land Acquisition Plan (LAP), the marking for RoW (Right of Way) and all other required technical matters/survey were carried out under the direction and supervision of NHIDCL, the Committee highlighted.
And there was never a question or adverse report on technical infeasibility in the Town portion, it said.
The first structural damage assessment was carried out in 2020 without any objection on the technical feasibility but it was observed that the assessment amount was on the higher side therefore a second assessment was necessitated, it informed.
However, the second assessment was done with a reduced RoW, which was against the DPR and Contract Agreement and without proper consultation with stakeholders which led to uproar in town, the JAC claimed.
A third assessment was again carried out but no sanction was accorded and the issue was kept pending, it added.
Accordingly, the JAC sought intervention of the Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio and the then UDA Chairman TR Zeliang to redress the grievances.
After a series of correspondences on June 6 2022, the MoRTH Minister Nitin Gadkari communicated to the Chief Minister to acquire 18m RoW in Peren Town Portion and hand over the RoW encumbrance free within 30 days, it informed.
Thereafter, a fourth damage assessment forwarded to the State Government was accepted.
The State Government forwarded the same to NHIDCL for sanction but “an apparent negative report” by the then Executive Director NHIDCL Kohima, MS Deol led to unwanted apprehension for sanction of the damage compensation amount, the JAC maintained.
Instead of accepting the report of the State Government and complying with the MoRTH Minister’s direction, the NHIDCL thereafter “carried out a technical feasibility survey which was not required at that point of time,” it alleged.
As per the JAC, accordingly, a Director (Technical) from the NHIDCL Headquarter was deputed to carry out technical feasibility, who allegedly gave a flying visit to Peren Town on November 24, 2022, without even the knowledge of district administration.
The Director (Technical) apparently “‘surveyed/verified’ the site from the comfort of his car,” it alleged, and reportedly submitted a report stating that the 2.8 km stretch was “technically unviable and will have a huge collateral damage.”
“This one flying visit and report has been used as a point of reference by NHIDCL to deny the people of Peren its due development as per DPR and Contract Agreement,” the Committee asserted.
Accordingly, the CSOs and Land Owner Village of Peren Town reiterated that the NHIDCL must keep its word for construction of the road within the specified RoW and an alternate route to bypass the town should not be considered now.
“We hope that NHIDCL would finally hear and listen to the woes of the people and resolve the issue at the earliest to avoid any further complications in the coming days,” the JAC added.
