Government moots conceding to LSU’s demand for Wokha-Merapani road
DIMAPUR, AUG 17 (MExN): The Nagaland State Cabinet has decided to go ahead with its plans to transfer to Kiphiri the 7th Nagaland Armed Police (NAP) from its present station at Bhandari sub-division in Wokha district. A government official, on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the cabinet had decided shift the 7NAP and replace it with the 11th Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB).
The General Secretary of the Lotha students Union (LSU), , Nzan K Yanthan expressed unhappiness at what he termed as the callous attitude of the government towards the demands of the LSU. He said that the student body had decided to reject the Cabinet’s decision and intensify the agitation. “The LSU has nothing against the IRB but that since it was a central force it’s permanency could not be guaranteed to ensure security to the people” He further informed that the LSU would be meeting on August 20 to review the ongoing agitation.
Meanwhile an LSU official informed that the Government of Nagaland had sent an official, the Additional Chief Engineer PWD, R&P, to negotiate with the LSU on the issue of Wokha-Merapani road construction. It is learnt the official assured the agitating students that the Government was looking into the matter and informed them that the state Government was already pressurizing the Centre to endorse its approval to the proposal to construct the work. Latest information suggests the Government had already submitted its assessment on the necessary cost of constructing the said road to the Development Of North East Region (DONER) ministry. The costs are estimated at 44.95 crores.
The apex students’ organization of the Lothas had set a deadline to the Government of Nagaland seeking fulfillment of its charter of demands which includes revocation of the State Cabinet’s decision to shift the 7th NAP from Bhandari Sub-division, construction of the Wokha-Merapani road and sufficient supply of electricity from the Doyang Hydel project.
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