Dimapur, July 12 (EMN): In the aftermath of bridge collapse claiming four lives on July 11, Nagaland Indigenous People’s Forum (NIPF) has demanded immediate resignation of the present minister of Roads & Bridges on moral ground and to suspend the present Executive Engineer of R&B, Dimapur Division for his irresponsibility in supervising the roads and bridges work activities.
While expressing shock on how the State authorities have been managing the road and bridges in the State, NIPF governing body, in its emergency meeting on July 12, also demanded to immediately black-list the firm M/S Nagami-Tech, who has been allotted the work for dismantling of the bending bridge and construction of a new bridges amounting to 37 crores and the Firm’s failure to ensure safety measures of the bridge by applying proper technical know-how. Besides, it demanded appropriate actions on Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police, Dimapur, for their lack of proper dispensation of the public authorities.
Pointing out at the RTI filed by its member ST Yanger Longkumer in respect of drawal limit issued to all the department authorities from April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017, it said Office of the Finance Commissioner (Budget & Monitoring Cell) revealed that it had issued 62 drawal authority(s) to the Department of Road and Bridges amounting to Rs 342 crores 22 lakhs 8 thousand from 06-05-2017 to 31-03-2017.
NIPF chairman NM Jamir and the secretary, Imli Sangtam have expressed serious concern about the consequential situation after the collapse of the bridge for the entire Niuland division, the surrounding villages, schools and institution and more particularly the students.
The Forum is contemplating to approach appropriate authority/ Court of Law in the matter of drawal of Rs 342 crores 22 lakhs 8 thousand by the Department of Roads & Bridges vis-a-vis the collapse of said bridge and present roads condition in the state of Nagaland.
