Colonies meet to discuss road work, extortion

[caption id="attachment_234087" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Workers construct a drain at ward-13 in Dimapur.[/caption] Eastern Mirror Desk Dimapur, Feb. 16: Council members of four colonies besides members of the Dimapur PWD (R&B) division met on February 16 in Dimapur to discuss a road project namely the ongoing ‘improvement of Dimapur city roads.’ Subu Jamir, a former political candidate for Dimapur-II during the 2018 state assembly elections, had consultations on Saturday with council members of Kyong colony, Residency colony, Landmark colony and Lotha colony; the gaon bura; and the Dimapur PWD (R&B) department. The meeting was led by Jamir, with the Dimapur-II unit of the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party. The meeting discussed the ongoing ‘improvement of Dimapur city roads’ project, which is from the PWD junction to Lotha colony via Unity College in Dimapur, and said to cost INR 1057.52 lakh. At the consultative meeting which was also attended by the contractor Hetoka Awomi, Jamir said the meeting was called for three reasons: to appeal to the contractor to have genuine concerns for the people and to implement work with integrity; appeal to the colony councils to form a committee to protect the contractor from unwanted interference and influence so that the contractor can carry out the work diligently and not compromise on the work; and that the committee formed should act as a facilitator with the dept. and the contractor. Jamir told the council that special attention was being given to Dimapur and Kohima districts for development with a special package under the People’s Democratic Alliance govt. On this line, he urged the dept., contractor and the councils to benefit from the project for development by working together as such projects are not easily offered.

‘Groups’ and extortion

Jamir was also critical of the involvement of ‘multiple groups’ extorting money from people, taking advantage of any new development works. He suggested to the colony councils to form a committee to monitor the work, oversee the workmanship and ‘not extract money.’ An official of the PWD (R&B) Imotemjen reported that soiling the road had been completed till Sewak junction. Soiling for the Lotha colony-to-Viola gate stretch of the road was yet to be, it was informed. He said that the contractor in concern was to supervise road maintenance for three years after completion of the construction. During the meeting, contractor Hetoka Awomi reported that construction work for drainage will be completed by February. He assured that black-topping the road will be completed by March. The colony council members assured of cooperation to the department and the contractor, and to set up a committee to monitor the road construction work.