Principal Correspondent
Kohima, September 23
Minister for Roads and Bridges Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu today pulled up the PWD for lack of good and quality roads in the State. Holding a Departmental Review Meeting at Chief Engineer’s Office here, Azo said Naga people deserve good roads and it is time for the department to deliver good roads.
He said Naga people have lots of expectation upon the department and the government. Nonetheless, 51 years of statehood has been a shame for the department because it has failed to deliver quality roads despite spending huge amount of money on maintenance of roads, he rued.
Therefore, the minister said it is time for the department to pull up their shocks and sincerely work for providing better roads. “PWD should be action oriented department and it should seriously get into the business of having quality roads in the State,” he said.
He also asked the officers of the Chief Engineers office and district officers to conduct surprise checking and verification of the works being allocated to different contractors. He asked them not to release the funds to contractors unless the works are completed satisfactorily.
Azo directed that even though people continue to cast aspersions on the department, black-topping of roads should not be carried during rainy season, except for maintenance works.
Meanwhile, the minister informed that such review meetings would be held at regular intervals and therefore the engineers of the districts and sub-divisions should be prepared to attend. He also warned that action would be initiated against any engineer of the department failing to attend such meetings.
He explained that the review meetings give an opportunity to introspect and retrospect the progress of previous work orders while asking the department officials and contractors to sincerely complete the projects.
