Principal Correspondent
Kohima, December 16
The Opposition Congress, while maintaining that the National Highways in Nagaland are in pathetic condition, today urged the PWD (NH) to properly maintain it. Raising supplementary during the question hour of the State Assembly here today, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Leader Tokheho Yepthomi said the State has to depend only on roads for transportation and therefore the department should not neglect it. He said compared with other states, the National Highways in Nagaland are in pathetic condition.
Earlier, replying to a Tokheho’s query, Minister Nuklutoshi said Rs 164.89 crore was allocated during 2013-14 for improvement and periodical repair of the National Highways.
Responding to the supplementary queries, he said there is no corruption in utilization of the funds as the projects are being monitored by the National Highways Authority of India, Regional Office located in Guwahati, Assam while the funds also directly go to the respective district offices for implementation of the projects.
Tokheho said Minister for National Highways Nuklutoshi is confused as he has given separate replies for the same question.
The CLP Leader pointed that during the July Budget session of the Assembly, the minister had replied that an amount of Rs 437 crore was received for improvement and periodical repair of the National Highways in the State for the year 2013-14. However, now the minister said only Rs. 164.89 crore was received for the same period.
“We are not foolish as we represent the people,” he said while urging that department and the minister concerned not to furnish improper reply on the floor of the Assembly.
He said though BRO is maintaining some of the NHs in the State, but NH-61 and NH-155 are with the State government and those should be properly maintained.
