Dimapur, May 31 : The Concerned Citizens of Nagaland (CCN) has issued a statement in response to the contentions offered by the minister for Roads & Bridges concerning the condition of roads–or the lack of roads–in Nagaland.
The CCN issued a press release on Tuesday stating that there was no excuse, including ‘paucity of funds,’ for the long-overdue upkeep which the roads in Nagaland have long-needed. For instance, the CCN stated, contractors are left with much less of the actual amount because of the “ugly” corruption, “commissions, departmental deductions, NPGs tax, etc” which force contractors to compromise on workmanship and quality of their construction.
The CCN has posed this question to the government to answer: ‘Why the deductions and commissions can’t be stopped so that proper quality roads can be constructed?’
The organization had floated a campaign on May 14 in Dimapur and other districts demanding good roads as a right of every citizen. “…the campaign was not against any individual, minister, party nor the government but was a collective appeal to all the collective authorities in a collective manner for the basic amenities which was overdue to the citizens of Nagaland as good roads is every citizens’ right which is indispensable, undeniable and unignorable (sic),” the response stated.
The CCN stated that the right to ‘good quality roads’ and proper drainage systems cannot be compromised by any excuse such as “paucity of funds.” The campaign was an expression of serious concern by the public amid ‘growing evidences’ that roads in Nagaland–full of potholes and “ponds”–had begun to attract the anger and dismay of the public in general, the campaigners stated.
The organization had this word for the minister: “It is pertinent to mention that the road contractors are left with much less of the actual amount of contract budget because of ugly corrupt practices in the form of commissions, departmental deductions, NPGs tax, etc. leaving the contractor to compromise on workmanship. CCN would like to put one straight question as to why can’t these deductions and commissions be stopped so that proper quality roads can be constructed? Bad roads affects all at the expense of the few benefactors.”
The organization has also asked the departments in concern to strictly supervise “the aftermath works of the departments like Telecom, PHED etc and proper measures and remedies be imposed for the hindrance it poses in deliverance of good roads.”Likewise, the Telecom and the PHED must also to adhere to norms, the CCN stated.
To the argument that roads were paved by different departments/agencies, the CCN replied that the roads in the state did not need tailor-made road campaigns for each department or group namely the PWD,BRO, ‘Army Supply Road’ or ‘NHAN.’
Nonetheless, the organization has assured of their support to any initiative that would see good roads for the people of the state. ‘The CCN will also render support and co-operation towards the R & B minister and the departments as and when needed in its pursuit to deliver good roads to the deserving people of Nagaland as citizens’ right,’ it added.
