KOHIMA — On
recent controversies surrounding the Trans Nagaland Highway (Foothills Road),
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Tuesday appealed to every agency “co-operating
from inside or outside to have full understanding with the department of Road
& Bridges and immediately allow the contractors to implement the road.”
The chief minister was replying to starred questions raised
by legislators Nyamnyei Konyak, Nuklutoshi and Achumbemo Kikon, on the second
day of the 6th Assembly Session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
Briefing on the project, Rio said that an amount of INR
148.50 crore was sanctioned in 2023-24, and had the money been spent with the
support of the people and cooperation of landowners, then additional money
requirement could have been sanctioned by 2024-25. Even this year, fund has not
been sanctioned because the previous year’s fund was not utilised, he said.
Rio also said that if the department had the support and
cooperation of the people, then the road would have been almost completed by
now.
He recalled how he had asked for this road to be declared a
National Highway (NH) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)
had then replied that the NH declaration can be made only when there is a road
first, and depending on the density of vehicles. But back then, there was no
such road, he added.
He appealed to all agencies “co-operating from inside or
outside” to have full understanding with the R&B department and immediately
allow the contractors to implement the road. The chief minister also assured to
give more funds to expedite the completion of the road.
Further, he requested the Nagaland Foothill Road
Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) and all hohos and civil societies to support
government projects, which are for the people.
Meanwhile, Rio extended his support to R&B minister
Kaito Aye, saying that “there is no issue with the project” and that “it will
not fail.”
In their supplementary questions, Konyak, Nuklutoshi and
Kikon questioned how the NFHRCC is going to “maintain the road” since the
Foothills Road has to be maintained by the R&B department.
Konyak also urged the department to complete the Foothills
Road at the earliest, citing that citizens of Mokokchung, Mon and Longleng
districts are suffering the most. He went on to state that though everyone
wants roads, “but now several issues are arising and fighting over contracts,
which is shameful.”
Kikon also was of the view that the condition (contract
agreement) the NFHRCC is trying to impose is “illogical” and “threatening.”
“There is a benchmark, how can we allow a group of people to
usurp the power of the government?” Kikon asked.
Work not directly allotted to NFHRCC — Kaito
Meanwhile, R&B Minister Kaito Aye has clarified that
department has not allotted work directly to the NFHRCC.
The minister disclosed that the NFHRCC had earlier requested
that the committee should also be part of some work, but the department has not
allotted the work directly to the committee, but only through the name of
“registered contractors.”
This was in response to the supplementary questions raised
by MLAs Nyamnyei Konyak and Nuklutoshi on why the NFHRCC was given work on the
Foothills Road project.
Kaito clarified that since the committee had also taken the
lead in pursuing the government to sanction fund for the Foothill Road
construction, in order to maintain goodwill with each other, “they put tender
in the name of registered contractors.”
He also informed that the contractors and the NFHRCC along
with the department will be having a meeting on Wednesday to resolve
misunderstandings.
He also claimed that the department has, till date, not
received any “affidavit agreement.”
He went on to inform that the tribes, community authorities
and NFHRCC made an “affidavit agreement,” and though it was circulated in the
public domain, the department did not officially receive the same.
In regard to the division of the Trans Nagaland Highway
project into 17 packages, the minister said that the project is “peculiar” from
other projects.
He recalled that the project was started in 2013-14, and due
to certain internal problems they had to make some understanding because lands
were not compensated. “Though NOC was signed, internally we had to respect each
other, therefore the arrangement was made taking note of all the stakeholders,”
he said.
Kaito also maintained that though there are some differences
with the NFHRCC, the government will go ahead with the work.
He further informed that all the 17 contractors are
registered and were awarded contracts through NIT. “I am yet to visit the
sites, but I assure that I will personally monitor and see that the project is
completed in time and fulfil the desire of the people.”
MLA Nuklutoshi was of the view that since the NFHRCC has
been given so much priority, many more similar committees like NFHRCC will come
up later. He asked if the government would be able to carry the burden of all
the committees.
Forecasting “big problem” as the committees will continue to
disturb, he said something has to be done and that the matter needs further
discussions.
