Tseminyu, September 28 (MExN): The Rengma Selo Zi (RSZ) today expressed resentment over the “neglect of the National Highway-2 (erstwhile NH-61) between Tseminyu and Wokha starting from km 40 to km 72.”
The RSZ in a press release issued by its President, Kenneth Kath and General Secretary, Sokenye Kent stated that the long awaited widening of highway began after a gap of 13 years but to its utter dismay the work has “suddenly stopped for two weeks since the end of this monsoon i.e. September 2018.”
RSZ recounted that the widening project was first sanctioned in 2010 and re-sanctioned in 2013 but due to “selfish motives of some individual and insincerity of the Department, the project has failed and even went up to the Supreme Court.”
“Finally, when the project was approved and sanctioned officially in 2016 after a series of agitation and confrontation with different agencies, the RSZ is irked to notice and find the loopholes with implementing agencies who were trying to fulfill their self vested interest out of the effort of the public,” the organisation alleged.
It pointed out that the earth cutting has stopped for almost two weeks due to non-availability of dumping sites which “the Department official were responsible as they did not do their job well before the project was implemented as the complete DPR was submitted to ministry years back.”
RSZ also alleged that the failure of the department to produce their proposal to the MORTH has lead to the delaying of the sanction to the affected landowner which was supposed to be done before the earth cutting commenced.
TK Engineering Consortium Pvt. Limited started the earth cutting last June 2017 and ever since the RSZ in collaboration with all Rengma organization has been rendering all physical and logistics support for the speedy expedite of the project, it added.
Meanwhile, regarding its recent ultimatum to Power Department and PHED to immediately carry out utility shifting works as not a single electric poles and high density poles are relocated and water supply pipeline connectivity are not taken care despite 50% of the sanctioned amount being transferred to the department concerned since April 2018, RSZ reminded that the “15 days ultimatum to the department came to an end on September 23, 2018 with still no visible sign of activities.”
On the other hand, according to RSZ, “the NH Department has been making all delay tactics and shifting blames and is yet to clarify and rectify all its wrongdoing. As a result, the ongoing work has now stopped as the landowners are not willing to allow loose soil to be dump in their land unless payments are made to construct proper protection wall on the dumping site.”
Several landowners and farmers are protesting to the construction company for compensation as the random dumping of loose soils has affected a vast portion of cultivable areas within the stretch of the NH-2, it informed further.
“The RSZ while making efforts as mediator to all parties for speedy work progress is fed up of the loopholes that the department concerned has created,” it stated while adding that “if this continues to hinder the progress, RSZ and public shall not hesitate to take action upon any individual or agencies.”
The RSZ stated that it has “lost faith and confidence at the Department and a team will proceed to both regional office of MoRTH Guwahati and Delhi next week for all detailed report to make sure that the sacrifice of the individual's land and properties for the welfare of the common goods are not being enjoyed and looted for self vested interest.”
