Deplorable Tseminyu-Wokha road: Rengma youths warn govt

More than 10 years ‘technical problem’ excuse no longer tolerable, says RSZ 

Dimapur, March 29 (EMN): A Rengma youth organisation has threatened the Nagaland government with agitation if the latter does not start taking steps to see to the highway between Tseminyu sub-division, in Kohima district, and Wokha district which the youths alleged remains neglected for years.

The Rengma Selo Zi (RSZ), a youth organisation, of the Rengma community, issued a press release to the media on Tuesday. The organisation took note that the “state National Highway department” had been “giving a deaf ear” and shifting the responsibility “here and there.”

The organisation said that National Highway-2 (erstwhile national NH-61) from kilometre 40th to kilometre 72nd between the sub-division and Wokha had been in deplorable condition for more than 10 years ‘due to the negligent and foul play of the department and government.’

The RSZ has declared that it can no longer tolerate any reason of “technical problem” which the department of National Highway Nagaland had allegedly been claiming for more than a decade.

“The RSZ shall have no hesitation to impose any agitations in any manner within its jurisdiction, as the matter has gone beyond tolerance, which it consider as an Insult to the community as the work cannot be implemented just because the department or the government could not find a suitable person or contractor in favour of them for the past 10 years,” the press release stated.

The RSZ also disclosed that on October 31, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had sent administrative approval of finance meant for ‘strengthening and widening’ to a two-lane, with paved shoulders, the NH-61 from KM-40 to 72.40 KM with an approved sanctioned of Rs.340.2687 crore.

According to the directive of the ministry of Road Transport and Highways, work was supposed to start by December 2016 and to be completed in November, 2019.

“Where it is also directed that the work be awarded within six months from the issue of the date from the ministry. So now the RSZ is curious as to why the work was not awarded till today to any contractors as the issue of approval from ministry was 31st October 2016, as such the amount is to be lapsed after six month i.e., April 2017,” the press release stated.

The youth organisation also questioned why Open Tender which was floated in the month of December 2016 was ‘nullified or rejected’; why the new tender was floated again on March 7 2017 ‘when the approved sanctioned was about to be lapsed by April 2017.’

The organisation has expressed scepticism at the functioning of the department “as it has being shifting blame game from one corner to another for many years and denying the right of the citizens, which clearly indicate that the government or the department in concern is not bothered about development and welfare.

“The RSZ cautioned that it shall no longer tolerate any injustice, nepotism or favoritism, as it has clearly stated in many meeting with the department that the Rengma communities do not favor any of the contract work allotment but it shall whole heartedly support and extend any possible assistance for the implementation of the work, but till today the work cannot be implemented despite of the ministry sanctioning money for the execution,” the press release stated.

The RSZ has stated to be anticipating “a positive response” from the government on this matter. Failing to do so will invite the organization to “impose any sort of agitations within its jurisdiction, which the government or the department should not try to put its hand on fire, when it had completely failed to respond to the need and cry of its citizens.”