[caption id="attachment_202821" align="aligncenter" width="565"]
A portion of the landslide-hit area near Soul Harvest Church, at Daklane colony, in Kohima.[/caption]
Kohima, August 23 (EMN): The Public Works department has stated on Thursday that the bypass route from Naga Hospital Kohima to Tinpatti would likely to be completed in the month of October. The authorities are optimistic that light vehicles would be able to ply on it by the first week of October.
In an interaction with Easter Mirror, additional chief engineer (R&B) K Thenu said that the road would be ready for the public from the month of October. The officer said that the department was using the ‘piling technique’ for ring wells to construct the road. But because piling machinery cannot be used due to the terrain condition, they are doing it manually, the officer said.
Avolu Novolu Venyo, subdivision officer of the PWD (R&B) for south division, also said in a telephonic conversation that the excavation process was going on for ‘pile foundation’ and was hopeful that by Sept. 30, light vehicles would be able to pass.
‘At least half of the work will be done by last week of September and by first week of October, light vehicle will be able to ply (one-way). By October, the whole thing will be completed,’ she said.
Lanutoshi, a section assistant at the PWD, who was assisting at a spot of the landslide-hit area, said they are unable to complete the work on time because of the inclement weather. The assistant asserted that they were nonetheless doing their best to make it functional soon. He cited loose soil as the main challenge as a foundation cannot be laid.
Keviside Kire, pastor of Soul Harvest Church of the living God, whose church adjoins the landslide area, said dumping soil and improper drainage systems caused the landslide.
The church is at risk as a portion of it has been affected by the landslide. The department has not provided any help and instead a drain built by the church was destroyed by a ‘JCB’ of the department nor has the department paid heed to appeals to repair the drain. “We are surviving by the grace of God,’ the pastor said.
A government official who used to travel everyday from Merhülietsa colony to the Nagaland Civil Secretariat via NHAK-Tinpati said: “The route takes me around 20-25 minute without traffic. Now that the said diversion road has been closed for vehicles, I have to move out from home earlier than usual for fear of traffic in the adjoining residential colonies and in the main town. While I take another one and a half hour to reach home, which drains me of all energy to even cook myself a healthy dinner. Happily going back home after office has become a thing of the past.”
The road connecting Naga Hospital-Tinpatti bypass road was blocked on the morning of July 31.
