Morung Express News
Tuensang | July 30
For the people of Tuensang, amidst the celebration of the 2nd state road show and the ‘Naknyulüm’ festival, it was a time to air their plight about the pitiable conditions of National Highway 155. Their plight came melodiously in a satirical song sung for MLAs and top bureaucrats. The song pricked an immediate response from Minister for Soil & Water Conservation P Longon who ‘committed’ Rs 50 lakhs for repairing the highway for some kilometers.
The satirical song by Lole Band (‘Lole’ means Eternity in the Chang dialect) which was sung in Nagamese in front of thousands, legislators and bureaucrats was but diplomatically worded much to the amusement of the listeners. When translated, the lyrics of the song conveyed the message that ‘to make Nagaland a paradise, roads have been constructed in different areas; but in places like Kohima, Wokha, Mokokchung Mon and Phek, every month, the roads become wider and wider, but the road to Tuensang is a swimming pool. ‘Benaidia manu thaki bona nai?,’ (‘Is there some people who can repair it?’), they sang. ‘Traveling on the road from Tuensang to Mokokchung, one’s intestines even fall off, and going to Kohima, people, instead of office works, land in the Naga hospitals; even the tears of the Tuensang people are finished at Doyang River.’ “Tuensang laka rasta juha high way,” the lyrics goes on.
The song evoked much applause from the audience; even the speech did not get that much ovation. Nonetheless, the chief guest P Longon, who spoke after the song, committed Rs 50 lakhs for repairing the road, and much to the happiness of the people. Longon also assured to inform the chief minister about the condition of the national highway. He said that the committed Rs 50 lakhs can be used to repair the Tuensang – Manaki road, which is reportedly about 20 kilometers away from Tuensang down.
Even the compeers at the programme announced that the demand and desires of the people are good roads, and appealed for early construction of the highway which connects Tuensang with the rest of the state. Various groups and organizations have been airing their displeasure at the way the highway is being maintained by the Nagaland PWD after it was handed over to the department by the Border Roads Organisation. The latest was by the ENSF.
