NFHRCC boycotts government meeting on Foothills Road, warns of protest and PWD office lockdown over delayed work orders
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DIMAPUR — The Nagaland Foothills Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) on Monday announced that Dimapur-based tribal hohos will boycott the April 7 meeting convened by the state government on the Foothills Road issue, and warned of intensified agitation—including locking the Public Works Department (R&B) office in Dimapur from April 15—if work orders for the second phase are not issued.
Addressing a press conference in Dimapur, NFHRCC general secretary Chenithung Humtsoe said the decision follows a March 30 resolution that the committee must be included in all discussions concerning the project. He added that Dimapur-based tribal hohos, endorsed by their respective apex bodies, have extended full support to the committee.
Describing the Foothills Road as a long-standing aspiration of the Naga people, Humtsoe maintained that while mobilising funds is the government’s prerogative, the committee has supported the project through advocacy and quality monitoring.
However, he said relations between the government and the committee have recently strained, alleging that the committee’s role has been misunderstood despite its efforts to strengthen implementation.
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NFHRCC convenor Supu Jamir said the decision to boycott the April 7 meeting was taken as there was no indication that the committee would be invited.
He added that the committee, along with Dimapur-based tribal hohos, has resolved to lock the PWD (R&B) office from April 15 if the government fails to issue work orders for the second phase, warning that the agitation will continue until concrete action is taken.
Jamir also criticised the government over the inauguration of the Doyang Bridge, alleging that the committee was not informed despite its involvement, and termed the move a “hijack” that hurt public sentiment.
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The committee stated that it has been seeking an appointment with Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio since 2022 to address concerns related to the project but has not been granted a meeting.
Referring to Assembly proceedings, the committee said Minister in-charge Kaito Aye had earlier assured that he would resign on moral grounds if the project was not executed as intended.
It also flagged concerns over the quality of work, citing show-cause notices issued to two contractors in February over unsatisfactory performance.
While the minister later attributed the notices to a communication gap, the committee claimed subsequent reports pointed to alleged substandard work in the Baghty division, with no response from the department.
On land acquisition, the committee refuted claims made during the recent Assembly session that landowners were unwilling to part with land, stating that all consent and No Objection Certificates were obtained between 2013 and 2014 and submitted to the chief minister in 2018.
Jamir further questioned the feasibility of the government’s proposal to upgrade the project into a four-lane road, noting that it has not received approval from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
He cited the Dimapur–Kohima four-lane project, which has remained incomplete for over two decades, to argue that the new proposal lacks practical clarity.
The committee also raised concerns over repeated deadline extensions granted to contractors, stating that the project deadline has been extended from March 31 to April 30, and warned that non-performing contractors should be blacklisted.
Jamir said the committee’s interventions—including appealing to landowners to forgo compensation, urging Naga national workers not to levy taxes on the project, and insisting that only statutory deductions be allowed—were aimed at ensuring transparency and quality execution.
He acknowledged that such measures might make some stakeholders uncomfortable, but asserted that the committee’s sole objective is to ensure construction of a quality road with proper workmanship.