Dimapur, Nov. 2 (EMN): A community organisation in Tseminyu subdivision, in Kohima district, has expressed displeasure at the government for failing to start construction of an office for a block development officer (BDO) establishment in said area.
The Kandinu Public Union based in Kandinu of Tseminyu issued a press release on Thursday stating the complaint which, it explained, was due to ‘vested play.’
The organisation declared: ‘The Kandinu Public Union is compelled to issue this statement on the NH-2 total bandh called between 31st October and 1st November 2017 at Kandinu area under Tseminyu subdivision. Even after almost five years since the foundation stone was laid, the construction for the BDO office at Chunlikha is yet to start due to vested play.’
The union stated that the foundation stone for the BDO office, Rural Development block at Chunlikha was dedicated by the NPF government during the time of then Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Feb. 29 2012.
‘After years of playing petty politics, work order for the same was finally issued in the month of November 2016. But even after part-payment for the work was made to the contractor, the RDD is still holding up the construction of BDO office. Repeated reminders to the RDD by the villages under Chunlikha block to start work have been of no avail,’ the press release stated.
‘No minister, MLA or govt above people’
To make matters worse, the organisation stated further, “It is reported that the local MLA, also the parliamentary secretary, has in a self styled manner sanctioned money from his own pocket and started constructing the BDO office at another site of his own choice different from the foundation-laid site.”
“The question is, what action is the RDD going to take for the private construction? The KPU is of the opinion that the private construction of the BDO office at GHS compound, Chunlikha is illegal, arbitrary and violative (sic) of the department’s order and the work order issued and KPU will not accept it at any cost.”
No minister or member of the legislative assembly is above the people nor is the government the private property of elected MLAs, the union reminded. ‘Such anti-people activities shall not go unnoticed. As per the govt. decision of 2012 RDD should direct the contractor to start work immediately at the foundation laid stone site and the private construction for said office should be declared as illegal since it is illegal construction.’
The KPU has questioned why the RDD was silent on the issue ‘unless the department has an ulterior motive.’
The RDD department is directed to “spell out the proper reasons in the media for being a mute spectator.” If any untoward accidents happen, the press release added, ‘it is the sole responsibility of RDD alone.’
