DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 7 : The Government of Nagaland has appealed the Nagaland Contractors’ and Suppliers’ Union (NCSU) to “refrain” from throwing “unfounded charges” at the two construction firms of Maytas and Gayatri in connection with the SARDP-Phase 1 roads project.
This appeal was contained in a press release issued by Commissioner and Secretary of Works and Housing I Himato Zhimomi on Friday. It has also appealed the contractors to “desist from making indirect intimidations to the company”.
The government’s press dispatch comes in the backdrop of the NCSU assertion on Thursday that they would not to allow Maytas-Gayatri (JV) to carry forward the Dimapur-Kohima NH 29 four-lane project until and unless the latter complete the SARDP-I two-laning project.
The union had also cautioned that if the company goes ahead with the construction works of the new project, they would be doing so at their own risk, as NCSU volunteers would be monitoring their activities round the clock.
According to Zhimomi, Maytas-Gayatri (JV) did not abandon the two lane projects after carrying out formation cutting under SARDP — Phase 1, as alleged by the local contractors. “The JV had to suspend the works as the revised estimates were not approved by the MoRTH.”
At present, the case is pending at the Supreme Court after the MoRTH filed a special leave petition against the Gauhati High Court ruling given in favour of the revised estimates. “The SARDP-phase 1 works is therefore expected to recommence as soon as the matter is dispensed by the Supreme Court and once the Revised Estimates are approved by the MoRTH. There is therefore no question of abandoning of the SARDP-Phase 1 roads in Nagaland by the JV,” Zhimomi stated in the press release.
He also stated that Gayatri had won the national tender floated by NHIDCL for 15 kms stretch of the road. There is no issue of any 'eyewash' by the company as they qualified technically and financially through open biddings, he added.
Stating that the 4-lane NH 29 would be the “lifeline for the Naga people” and “act as the most important link” of New Delhi’s Act East Policy, Zhimomi said it was important that all sections of the society understand its significance and extend full cooperation.
