Eastern Naga Students' Federation backs Khiamniungan Students' Union demanding accountability over abandoned road projects in Noklak district
DIMAPUR — The Eastern Naga Students' Federation (ENSF) has extended its unequivocal endorsement and full support to the demands raised by the Khiamniungan Students' Union (KSU) regarding the abandonment of critical road infrastructure projects in Noklak district.
Expressing grave concern over revelations made on the floor of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, the federation in a statement highlighted the discontinuation of vital projects and the reported return of funds without completion of works, purportedly due to land compensation demands by landowners.
The projects in question, particularly the Chendang Saddle-Noklak-Pangsha Road Project (Phase II) and the Noklak-Thonoknyu Road via Sanglao, are essential lifelines for the people of the Noklak district and the wider Eastern Nagaland region, the ENSF stated.
It added that their abandonment has serious implications for public connectivity, economic activities, access to essential services, and developmental aspirations, raising questions about administrative accountability, financial prudence, and the state government’s commitment to equitable development.
The federation placed on record that it had earlier communicated with the Public Works Department (Roads and Bridges) during a meeting, urging it to furnish fair, proper, and transparent information in response to the queries and demands raised by the KSU.
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However, the department’s failure to comply and provide satisfactory clarification has deeply hurt the sentiments of the people of Noklak district and the ENSF, it stated, describing the lack of response as unacceptable and disrespectful to the affected communities.
Noting that the matter was raised on the floor of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, the ENSF stated that an issue of such public importance cannot be treated as a mere formality and left to fade without concrete action.
It pointed out that once serious questions concerning public infrastructure, expenditure, and administrative decisions have been brought before the house, the authorities have a heightened responsibility to establish facts, explain circumstances, and ensure appropriate corrective measures, adding that silence, vague explanations, or evasive responses would only deepen public distrust.
The federation demanded that the department and the state government provide a clear, comprehensive, and factually verifiable account of the circumstances leading to the discontinuation of the projects, the status and utilisation of sanctioned funds, reasons for their return, and concrete measures proposed to ensure completion of the roads.
Reiterating that development in eastern Nagaland cannot continue to be undermined by administrative indifference or inadequate communication, the ENSF stated that it is closely monitoring the matter. It placed the department and the state government on notice that continued failure to provide a satisfactory and transparent response will leave it with no option but to initiate democratic and constitutional forms of action.
Calling upon the authorities to assume responsibility and take immediate steps towards the resumption and completion of the affected road projects subject to necessary technical and administrative processes, the federation maintained that public funds must serve their intended purpose and that questions raised in the Assembly must culminate in tangible action.