Landowners suspend blockade on Kohima–Jessami road project till August end

DIMAPUR — Aggrieved landowners affected by the Kohima–Jessami 2-lane road construction project, covering packages 2B to 5, have announced the suspension of their blockade on National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL)-related works and activities.

The blockade, which began on July 17, has been suspended until the end of August to allow for ongoing negotiations at the ministerial level to continue. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the landowners said that the decision was taken to give diplomacy a chance and to facilitate a peaceful resolution to their grievances.

According to the statement, the suspension followed a meeting convened by the deputy commissioner of Phek on August 6. The meeting was also attended by the superintendent of police Phek, Chakhesang Public Organisation and Chakhesang Mothers’ Association, who intervened and appealed for the suspension.

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While the landowners remain committed to resolving the matter through dialogue, if their concerns are not addressed by the end of August, they will resume their agitation with “more extreme measures,” it said.

“It is important to note that any escalation of the agitation beyond this point is a consequence of the unresolved issues and should not be attributed to the landowners, who have demonstrated patience and willingness to engage in constructive dialogue,” the statement read.

Further, the aggrieved landowners urged all stakeholders involved in the negotiations to prioritise finding a mutually acceptable solution that upholds their rights and interests while ensuring the progress of the road construction project.