Nagaland Assembly discusses NH-2 expansion at Doyang Bridge and Chukitong, MTS staff redeployment from Phek to Meluri, and the shortage of SDOs at Tobu.
KOHIMA/DIMAPUR — On the first day of the ninth session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) on Tuesday, ministers in charge of various departments responded to several starred questions raised by members of the House.
NH-2 expansion faces ROW, land hurdles
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister-in-charge of PWD (National Highways) TR Zeliang informed the Assembly that right of way (ROW) clearance for a two-kilometre stretch of National Highway-2 near Doyang Bridge is still pending from the competent authority.
Responding to a starred question raised by MLA Nuklutoshi on the status of NH-2 (formerly NH-61) expansion at km 103 to 105 near Doyang Bridge and km 88/400 at Chukitong town, Zeliang said work on the Doyang Bridge stretch could not proceed due to the pending ROW clearance.
He said the 88/400 km stretch, covering around 30 metres in Chukitong town, had been de-scoped due to non-availability of land. A landowner had not consented to the use of the land for road development, following which the Ministry de-scoped the portion.
Zeliang said NH-2, connecting Kohima and Mokokchung, is an important highway serving several parts of the State, particularly the eastern districts.
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On compensation for damage along the 103 to 105 km stretch, he said the initial assessment was submitted to the deputy commissioner concerned in 2019 and subsequently forwarded to the Ministry by the State National Highways Department. However, the assessment had inadvertently excluded damage to plantations, crops and fisheries between km 101 and 105.
The matter was brought to the notice of the deputy commissioner, Wokha, in July 2022. A revised assessment was later conducted, with the compensation proposal for km 101 to 105 submitted by the deputy commissioner, Kohima, to the deputy commissioner, Wokha, in January 2023 before being forwarded to the Ministry.
Zeliang added that despite several coordination meetings with landowners and the deputy commissioner, Wokha, the concerned landowners were yet to issue a no-objection certificate (NOC), preventing ROW clearance.
Nuklutoshi highlighted the hardships faced by commuters and urged speedy completion, noting that NH-2 is among the State’s busiest highways after NH-29 and provides connectivity to six districts.
MTS staff transfer from Phek to Meluri
To a starred question by Advisor Kuzholuzo Nienu on whether the commissioner’s office had issued any directive to the deputy commissioner of Phek regarding the redeployment, transfer and posting of MTS staff to Meluri, Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Yanthungo Patton said the proposal had been received from the commissioner, Nagaland. He said the proposal followed a joint meeting of the deputy commissioners of Phek and Meluri held at the commissioner’s office.
Patton informed the House that the Home Department was examining the proposal concerning the redeployment, transfer and posting of MTS staff from Phek to Meluri district.
He clarified that no final order had been issued so far, as the proposal remained under examination.
No SDO (PHED) posted at Tobu
Minister for PHED and Cooperation, Jacob Zhimomi, said the department had been unable to post an SDO at Tobu due to an acute shortage of officers in the rank
The minister was replying to a starred question raised by MLA A Nyamnyei Konyak on the non-posting of an SDO (PHE) at Tobu,
Zhimomi informed the House that against a sanctioned strength of 51 SDOs, the department currently had 46 officers.
At present, the executive engineer, Mon Division, PHED, is holding the additional charge of the Tobu sub-division due to the shortage of SDOs.
The minister assured the House that upon completion of the training and attachment of the newly appointed SDOs, the department would ensure the posting of an officer at the Tobu sub-division at the earliest.
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