Will withdraw NOC, sue NHIDCL, state govt, warns PVC
DIMAPUR, JULY 1 (MExN): The Peren Village Council (PVC) has strongly objected to a controversial decision of the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to withdraw the construction of the 2.80 km Peren town portion stretch under Package-1 of the NH-129A Peren-Dimapur 2-lane road project.
In a representation addressed to the Chief Minister, the PVC stated the a meeting between the NHIDCL managing director, Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister-in-charge, National Highways and Chief Secretary held on May 10, 2023 approved the withdrawal of works in the Peren town area from the present scope of work of package-1.
Copy of the official letter (No NHIDCL/Nagaland/rd/2022-13/1673 Dated the 26th May 2023) of record of discussion of the said meeting, which was made available to media, stated that the construction of the 15m carriageway with 18m RoW is not possible considering the difficult topography and to reduce the co-lateral damages.
The letter mentioned that technical director NHIDCL visited Peren town portion wherein it was observed that construction of 2-lane in the densely populated area in Peren town is not suitable due to poor geological and endangered slope stability in the slopes of hills/valleys.
The PVC has termed this development as a betrayal and breaching the mutual understanding and agreement between the state government & NHIDCL on one end and the stakeholders including village councils and public on the other.
It stated that the landowner villages was never consulted as it did when the NOC was first obtained. The PVC reminded that when initial survey was first started by NHIDCL in July 2018, several landowner villages including Peren village had proposed for change in alignment in certain sections of NH-129A which was however denied citing that any major changes in alignment would require approval of MORTH.
Considering the importance of the NH-129A and the need to avoid further delays and as requested upon by the state government as well as NHIDCL officials, NOC was issued on the premise that the highway would be constructed along the existing route which is honoured and upheld by the PVC.
The PVC also stated that this recent development negates the decision of the Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari who had on June 6, 2022 written to Nagaland Chief Minister that NHIDCL has been directed to acquire 18m RoW to develop a 15m wide black top road in Peren town, with a provision of suitable road marking/divider to channelize traffic as per site requirement.
It had also requested to identify the structures getting affected in the proposed RoW of 18 m and correctly estimate the damage compensation in the town portion, to facilitate the construction of the highway.
Estimate after joint survey be given to NHIDCL by 20th May and the required RoW be handed over to NHIDCL encumbrance free within 30 days of deposition of damage compensation, the June 6 letter also read.
It also highlighted that the actual construction of NH 129A package-1 over a stretch of 17.281 kms started on December, 2020 and even after a lapse of 2 years and 6 months, Peren town stretch of 2.5 kms and 300 meters (Peren Kipeusang) have not started and remain incomplete to this day.
Given the circumstances and if NHIDCL superimposes its decision., the PVC said it would be compelled to withdraw all NOCs previously issued regarding NH-129A package-1 within one month, file PIL and sue NHIDCL/state government for all damages including land from river Tepuiki till Peren town and restrict interstate movement of vehicle along the said national highway.
