Claims BDO office was 'hurriedly' shifted to Tsonsa
Dimapur, Nov. 03 (EMN): The Kithagha Public Organisation has censured the recent blockade in NH 2, organised by the Kandi Public organisation over the construction of BDO office, stating that creating inconveniences to the public when there is a already a confusion over the location of the BDO office is unfortunate and uncalled for.
This was stated through a press release from the President of the Kithagha Public Organisation, Khanco Magh on Thursday.
The organisation stated that Chunlikha being the centre and headquarter of the Northern Rengmas consisting of 13 villages and considering the suitable location in all aspects, the proposal for creation of the Rural Development Block was at Chunlikha. The cabinet had approved for creation of an RD block at Chunlikha and not Tsonsa as stated by the Kandi group, it asserted. The BDO office at Chunlikha has been functioning 'smoothly and peacefully' at the VDB multi-purpose building as a temporary office since establishment without any compliant for the last 5 years. The construction of a permanent BDO office building was then surveyed by the department and the site which is about 3 acres located 300 meters ay from NH 2 was earmarked at Chunlikha with GIS mappings and the land donor was also appointed as a Grade IV staff.
However, on the eve of the assembly elections in 2013, the organisation stated that some leaders with 'vested interests' politicised the issue by shifting the proposed inaugural site from Chunlikha to Tsonsa for laying of foundation stone which created misunderstanding and unrest in the area. A meeting held on Feb.24 2012 with the affected fvillages was inconclusive due to 'differences of opinion' and so the councils of the Kithagha villages councils requested the government to postpone the inaugural programme. The Kithagha and Tesophenyu groups which constitutes a population of 18,388 having 3076 households therefore conducted a protest rally on Feb. 29, 2012 and also boycotted the inaugural ceremony at Tsonsa.
The Kithagha Public Organisation alleged that with elections approaching, some people with vested interests have brought back the issue alive for 'political mileage' and to disturb the functioning of the RD block. It asked why only one group of villages in the whole of Chunlika RD block of 13 villages has suddenly started staking claim for construction of the said RD building at Tsonsa when the present site is clearly viable and approved by the government. The question of shifting the site to Tsonsa does not arise at all unless it is guided by 'ulterior motives'.
The RD Block Chunlikha consists of the Tesophenyu group ( 4 villages), Kithagha group (3 villages) and the Kandi group ( 6 villages), it stated.
Therefore the organisation stated that with the prevailing background to the issue at hand, calling for bandhs causing inconveniences is needless.
"As such, organizing of bandhs/agitations and creating inconvenience to the public in general; creating confusion and disturbing the smooth functioning of the government at this juncture is felt to be unfortunate and uncalled for. Rather, a constructive and progressive culture is encouraged for the peaceful coexistence and development of the society. May good sense and greater interest for common good prevail," it stated.
The organisation on the other hand also acknowledged that the work order for construction of BDO Office Chunlikha was issued during November 2016 and the government had released almost 50% of the amount within a month without commencement of work. It stated that the matter is 'questionable' on what grounds an amount of Rs 7 lacs. was released to the contractor when the controversy on the selection of site is yet to be resolved, it stated.
