The District Congress Committee Kiphire has expressed disappointment over the Naga People's Front's justification of the poor condition of Pungro roads.
DIMAPUR — The District Congress Committee (DCC), Kiphire, has expressed deep disappointment over a recent press statement issued by the Naga People's Front (NPF), 60 Pungro-Kiphire Assembly Constituency, regarding the condition of roads in Pungro.
According to a press release from the DCC Kiphire, the NPF's statement attempted to justify the deplorable condition of roads in Pungro rather than addressing the genuine grievances of the public.
The DCC stated that the response appears to dismiss the legitimate concerns raised by citizens by attributing them to a lack of understanding of the "ground realities". It described the response as unfortunate, reflecting an attempt to shift attention away from the failure to provide one of the most basic public necessities, which is motorable roads.
The committee added that the people of Pungro have endured years of poor road conditions despite repeated assurances from the ruling government. It stated that development cannot be measured by press statements or announcements but must be reflected in tangible improvements that positively impact the daily lives of the people.
"The explanation that the reconstruction of roads has been delayed due to an ongoing Land Acquisition Survey and Assessment Exercise is unconvincing," the DCC statement read.
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The DCC stated that the public deserves transparency regarding the status of the survey, the timeline for its completion, the funds allocated for the project, and the expected date for the commencement of construction. It added that administrative procedures should not become an endless excuse for inaction while public infrastructure continues to deteriorate.
The DCC also noted the NPF's acknowledgement that only minor repairs and maintenance have been undertaken through the initiative of the Yimkhiung Youth Organisation (YYO), in collaboration with Likimro Enterprise and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
While describing the efforts of these organisations as commendable, the DCC stated that it is not the responsibility of community organisations to shoulder the burden of maintaining public infrastructure that falls squarely within the mandate of the government.
The committee found it inappropriate for the ruling party to urge citizens to refrain from public criticism. It stated that in a democratic society, constructive criticism is not an act of negativity but a constitutional right and an essential mechanism for ensuring transparency and accountability, adding that the condition of the roads is visible to every resident and cannot be dismissed as misinformation or misunderstanding.
Instead of questioning the intentions of concerned citizens, the DCC stated that the government should provide clear answers regarding project approvals, budget utilisation, implementation schedules, and reasons for the prolonged delay, as accountability is demonstrated through action, not rhetoric.
The DCC Kiphire declared its support for the people of Pungro in their demand for quality infrastructure, transparent governance, and timely execution of developmental works. It called upon the state government and the concerned authorities to move beyond explanations and immediately initiate concrete measures to restore and reconstruct the roads of Pungro.