DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 29 (MExN): The Association of Engineers, Nagaland Public Works Department (PWD) has strongly supported the takeover of National Highway-155 by the state PWD recently and said that the takeover will improve the economic conditions of the public and enhance state revenue.
A press note issued by AENPWD president, Er Khupi Natso said that it had been a long-felt need for the engineers of the department to be exposed to high specification and quality work such as national highway works. The note said that this need was fulfilled when the NH-61 from Kohima to Jhanji (Assam) was handed to the PWD (R&B) during 1998.
“The improvement of this stretch of the national highway is an example of the ability of the engineers of the department to undertake all types of work,” said the association.
The association also felt that the taking-over of the national highway will improve the economic conditions of the public by way of circulation of the money within the area since labours, construction materials, contracts etc shall be drawn from the locals only. The state will also be benefited by earning ‘agency charges of 9% of the project cost as Government Revenue’, the engineers said.
They observed that the scope of expanding the department by creating more technical posts, as proposed by the department, will open up more employment opportunities for the technically qualified but unemployed youths of the state.
In this connection, the association appealed to the public of Nagaland and particularly the citizens of the area where the national highway passes through, to judiciously examine the pros and cons and trust one’s own people-the engineers of the state PWD, so that NH-155 is also improved and brought up to the standard of the other national highways of the country.
Meanwhile, ENGOA has made clear that it stands firm to initiate and defend the interest and welfare of the four districts of Tuensang, Mon, Longleng and Kiphire people. “ENGOA resolved to issue press release in support of the Government of Nagaland decision to handover the construction work of NH. No 155 from the Boarder Road Organisation to Nagaland PWD”, ENGOA vice president N. Konyak stated in a press note.
ENGOA along with ENSF, ENPO executive members and officials of various organisations had a meeting on September 17 at DUDA guest house and deliberated upon the matter. Moreover, in relation to the news published on September 24 in some local dailies, N. Konyak said that the earlier press release was intended to make public awareness to study the pros and cons of the matter. There is no contradictory press release or any rift within the ENGOA as quoted in the news paper report in some local dailies. “Such misinterpretation, misinformation and false impression, propagation must be ignored in the greater interest and welfare of the people”, N. Konyak appealed.
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