Staff Reporter
Dimapur, August 8
The 12-hour first phase agitation called by Joint Action Committee (JAC) for Dhobinala-Signal-Thahekhu-Rangapahar Road imposing total restriction on movement of heavy vehicles along the road from 6 am to 6 pm passed off peacefully with no untoward incident today. Volunteers from all 13 villages and colonies concerned along with members of JAC were seen enforcing the blockade at all entry points of the road. The 13 villages include Rio Colony, Metha Colony, Sema Tilla, Xuvihe Colony, Kevija-U village, Viola Colony, Signal Angami village, Signal Colony, Sangtam Tilla, Thahekhu village, Lhomithi village, Naga Gaon and Y. Zhimo Colony.
Heavy vehicles were not allowed to ply along the road used for transportation of goods by Food Corporation of India (FCI), Indian Oil Corporation (IOC depot), Salt Supply Depot and Army Supply Depot. The road also links Nagaland Zoological Park, Nagaland Cricket Stadium, Green Park, Ganeshnagar, Airport and Kohima-Imphal Road, Dhansiri-Doyapur Road, Diphu-Lumding Silchar Road. However, defence vehicles and school buses were exempted from the purview of the restriction.The restriction on heavy vehicles was imposed following failure of the government and the department concerned to respond to memorandum submitted to PWD (R&B) minister by JAC on April 17 on the deplorable condition of the road.
A member of JAC, talking to Eastern Mirror, said in the month of April when the committee went to submit the memorandum to the minister, they were given assurance that their appeal will be looked into within one month. But even after expiry of four months, there was no response from the government or the department on the matter which compelled the committee to enforce the restriction, he said.
Volunteers stationed at West Yard junction seized a truck around 5 pm which was said to have entered the road during the blockade. However, the truck was released after 6 pm.
The JAC will hold a meeting on Saturday to discuss further course of action. It will impose indefinite restriction on all commercial vehicles, including autorickshaws, along the road in Phase II agitation if the government and the department fail to respond to their demand.
Meanwhile, the committee thanked all the representatives and volunteers of all 13 villages and colonies for extending overwhelming support towards the success of the blockade.
