Nagaland PWD clarifies that two Noklak road projects were foreclosed following the discontinuation of the NLCPR scheme
DIMAPUR — The Public Works Department (Roads & Bridges) has clarified that two road projects in Noklak district were foreclosed following the discontinuation of the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) scheme, and not because of land compensation disputes cited in its reply to a question in the state Assembly.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, the department explained that the projects were closed to avoid duplication and enable the remaining work to be taken up under new central or state schemes.
The projects are the 14.54-km Noklak-Thonoknyu road via Sanglao and the 31-km Jendang Saddle-Noklak-Pangsha road, Phase II.
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The clarification was made in relation to the department’s reply to Starred Question No. 18 during the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly session. The department had cited disturbances caused by landowners seeking compensation along the alignments as one of the reasons for delays and failure to complete the projects on time.
According to the department, the contractor had also cited the compensation issue while seeking an extension of time. However, it maintained that the projects were foreclosed because the NLCPR scheme had been discontinued by the Union Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region in December 2017.
At a joint meeting in Noklak on October 28, the contractor reportedly told the department and the Khiamniungan Students’ Union (KSU) that land compensation disputes had not halted the work and expressed regret that the issue had been cited as a reason.