[caption id="attachment_88679" align="aligncenter" width="520"]
Members of Chakhroma Northern Angami Kuda Union protesting the construction of working women hostel at the Northern Angami Colony playground on December 15.[/caption]
Dimapur, Dec 15: Residents of Northern Angami Colony (Walford) today directed contractors concerned to remove construction materials from the colony ground within one month while cautioning that failing to comply will compel the youth to initiate necessary action as deemed fit.
Residents of Northern Angami Colony (Walford) and representatives from all 24 villages under Northern Angami villages under the banner of ‘Chakhroma Northern Angami Kuda Union’ (CNAKU), on Thursday staged a protest rally at Northern Angami Colony Public playground to oppose encroachment of the public ground.
The protest rally was held against the ongoing construction of ‘Working Women Hostel’ initiated by the Northern Angami Public Organization (NAPO) at the present play ground.
More than 300 people holding placards and banners exhibited solidarity against encroachment. The protestors served a month ultimatum to contractors to remove all construction materials from the site or face legal action. Hosts of leaders from Northern Angami based in Dimapur, in their speeches, appealed to NAPO to shift the site of the hostel.
A pioneer of the colony, Kevise Sogotsu, in his address said CNAKU or residents of Northern Angami Colony were not against NAPO for initiating any developmental works in the colony, but not at the cost of the playground. In an impassioned speech, Kevise said for residents of the colony, the playground has become more than a symbol of a religious site as the playground has served as the venue for many tribes and communities to host various events including tribal festivals, wedding and other social gatherings.
According to Sogotsu, the playground has served as a recreation centre for the youth thereby diverting from other immoral activities.
Hitting out at the ‘vested interest’ local contractors for compromising the future of the colony and posterity just for pecuniary benefits, Kevise cautioned that the residents of the colony will oppose tooth and nail if the playground was demolished for the sake of money.
Former DMC vice chairperson, DP Angami, said the public ground is not just for the Northern Angami people but even for everyone. He questioned the rationale of NAPO officials in constructing such project in the middle of the ground.
“We are not against the project but the site of the project is not in the welfare of the people. Today all those gathered here share the sentiment of the protest. We are only here to appeal to our parent body (NAPO) that they will bring a mutual understanding which will be beneficial to every constituting body. This ground is very important to us and we must prevent it from vanishing,” DP said.
Senior member Er. Keneilhoulie Keditsu remarked to a tussle in a family in which children are required to correct their parents in times of certain keys decisions. While stating that the proposed building construction for a working women hostel was a requirement, he admitted communication gap when the project started.
Former bureaucrat, Vihielie Sekhose, has termed the development as ‘purely a legal matter’ because some people have take law into their hands. He was of the view that the same should be counter through legal measures.
Chairperson of the protest rally, Luola-o Usou, in his concluding remark said CNAKU will send another memorandum to NAPO appealing the latter to relocate the project to another site.
